4 winners (and 3 losers) from Steelers too-close-for-comfort win vs. Broncos

The Steelers did just enough to win again this week, but against a bad Denver team one has to come away disappointed. The defense did its part in limiting the Broncos all day. The offense looked good early but faded hard down the stretch. A win is a win, and this Week 2 victory keeps Pittsburgh atop the AFC North, but things need to get better soon for this offense.

There is plenty worth noting for the team though after this game. Some areas were on point and looked strong, but fans have to be frustrated with how consistently bad the offense has been.

From the Matt Canada debacle to now a whole new system with new quarterbacks, it is tiring to see the team play like this. That said, here are the 4 winners and 3 losers from the Steelers win over the Broncos.

Steelers winners

The running game

At a bare minimum, the Steelers got what they wanted out of the offense on the ground this week. Both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren looked good this week and combined for over 100 yards on the ground. I wanted to see Warren get more involved and he looked like his usual self this week to good effect. This is a team that has wanted to be effective on the ground, and they certainly did just that against the Broncos.

The pass rush

I’ll lump this group together as well, as the Steelers edge rushers did their part this week to keep the Broncos at bay. Both T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith logged a sack while the rest of the front seven kept the pressure up all game. It was key in keeping a rookie quarterback look like a work in progress, which resulted in a low-scoring effort by the Broncos.

Corliss Waitman

While he had the benefit of punting with the thin Denver air, Corliss Waitman did everything you wanted in a replacement punter that was added this week. He had a healthy average and helped flip the field when the offense stalled. Shoutout to the coverage unit for limiting Denver as well.

DeShon Elliott

Two weeks of really good play from DeShon Elliott, and he has quickly established himself as the best addition to the team. That is quite the compliment considering some of the names that have also done well for themselves. He is a perfect complement for this defense and a core member of the defense already.

Steelers losers

Broderick Jones

I’m mad at everyone right now with Broderick Jones. He certainly did the team no favors with his poor play and penalties, but the Steelers are also deserving of some blame for how they have treated him. Getting benched is a bad look though, and I’m quickly becoming convinced that this story isn’t going to turn around in his favor.

Beanie Bishop Jr.

Beanie Bishop didn’t have a horrible game, but he also hasn’t made much of an impact on defense either. I get it, he is an undrafted rookie, but the Steelers seemed enamored with him in the offseason and I just haven’t seen why yet. He needs to be more impactful in both the run and pass game.

Second-half offense

My least favorite aspect of Mike Tomlin has been how his teams come out at halftime. Rarely do I see any big adjustments, and it has cost the team dearly before. This week, the offense actually was humming before the middle point of the game, but it came out flat in the second half and it almost cost the team.

Only having 117 passing yards isn’t going to cut it. Justin Fields did enough not to warrant being on the losers list, but as opponents get tougher, he will need to win through the air more. As a whole, the offense has still been mediocre, and things need to change as soon as possible to keep their winning ways going.