The Steelers clinched a resounding defensive victory, shutting out the opposition in the second half, a feat led by the heroic performance of veteran T.J. Watt. With a final score of 18-10, the defense decisively won the turnover battle, held the run game to under 100 yards on the ground, and rattled the veteran QB Kirk Cousins.
On the flip side, the offense, led by the resilient Justin Fields, conquered a sluggish slow start to deliver an outstanding performance. They safeguarded the ball, dominated the time of possession, and most importantly, ensured that Fields remained protected throughout the majority of the game, instilling a deep sense of security and confidence.
As we gear up for Week 2 of the NFL season, the Steelers are set to face the Denver Broncos out west. Reflecting on the performance against the Falcons, the primary issue that needs attention is the offense’s quest for a reliable WR2 behind George Pickens, that Justin Fields or Russell Wilson can rely on.
Spread the wealth and attack the middle
WR’s Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III posted abysmal numbers on Sunday as their presence on the field was ghostly. Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith should work on creating a better target distribution for Jefferson and Austin III to support Pickens.
If the Steelers offense formulates a variance of plays that hone in on their players' route-running capabilities we could see a spark of excitement in the passing game.
Surprisingly, we did not see the Steelers attack the middle of the field against the Falcons as the Next Gen Stats passing chart showcases. The Seahawks though found great success targeting the middle of the field against the Broncos. Hopefully, the Steelers will utilize Austin III’s speed, or TE Pat Freiermuth’s physicality to exploit a weak spot in the Broncos defense.
Steelers O-Line camaraderie in the works
Secondly, the offensive line did a good job keeping Justin Fields protected for most of the game, despite allowing two sacks. Giving the QB more time and space to go through his reads will be beneficial not only for the QB's confidence but also for the morale of the offense. For RB’s Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, the O-line will need to create holes for explosive run opportunities.
Building the camaraderie with the O-line is one of the most important underrated aspects for a QB and their offense. Overall, Rookie Center Zach Frazier maintained a calm, cool, and collected game, aside from the first snap of the game which was a miscommunication fumble.
However, the mature mentality to reset and adapt quickly during the game cemented why Frazier was a solid choice for the Steelers to pick up in the draft. With the injury absence of Isaac Seumalo, Spencer Anderson was the next man up and managed to perform well enough to keep Fields composed. As the season goes on, fans hope to see a greater wall of protection for their QB.
Thirdly, plenty of speed was present on the defensive side of the ball as Donte Jackson and DeShon Elliott intercepted Kirk Cousins, T.J. Watt doing T.J. Watt things, and Minkah Fitzpatrick flying around the back end of the field. However, as the Steelers finely comb through the performance, the guys in the middle of the field and the guys up front need to prevent explosive runs and yards after catch from getting out of hand.
For the most part, the Steelers D was able to keep the Falcons offense in check, but in the weeks to come, they will need to raise the standard to prevent chunk plays from occurring.