The Pittsburgh Steelers secured another hard-fought victory, narrowly defeating the Los Angeles Rams with a final score of 24-17. In typical Steelers fashion, they won in a gritty manner, improving their season record to 4-2.
Defense holds strong once again
Now, let's take a closer look at the key aspects of this game, beginning with the defense. As they've consistently done, the Steelers' defense stepped up, ensuring their team's success. They held the high-scoring Rams to only 17 points, effectively containing Cooper Kupp, who managed just 2 catches for 29 yards. Puka Nacua had a standout performance with 8 receptions for 154 yards, but the fact that they managed to keep one of those Rams' wide receivers in check is a testament to the coaching staff.
However, it's evident that Levi Wallace's defensive performance has been consistently problematic. Week after week, he has proven to be a liability in all facets of the game. It's becoming clear that he should not see any more snaps on the defensive side for the remainder of the year. Today's game solidified Joey Porter Jr as the starter for the foreseeable future.
Steelers offense shows up late, finally scores points
Shifting our focus to the offensive side of the ball, we finally witnessed some much-needed scoring. The Steelers scored 24 points, marking a season high. In the second half, they began to resemble the potent offense we saw late last year, effectively running and passing the ball. To consistently win games in the NFL, this level of play needs to be sustained for all four quarters, but it's certainly a step in the right direction.
Credit is due to offensive coordinator Matt Canada for calling a game that allowed the offense to showcase creativity and effectiveness. Kenny Pickett, as we've seen before, shines when under pressure. His poise and confidence were pivotal to this win.
For the Steelers to achieve their goals, they must rely on Pickett's consistently strong performances and maintain the same level of play throughout an entire game, as he has in the fourth quarter of the past two games.
Cleaning up the issue of stupid penalties
Overall, the offense displayed promising improvements, but there are still areas that need addressing. Starting fast and curbing unsportsmanlike penalties are top priorities. Costly penalties at inopportune moments hindered drives and prevented scoring opportunities. Players like George Pickens and Diontae Johnson, both highly talented, must limit mental mistakes that can affect the outcome of the game.
Will today's offense build on momentum?
The Steelers face the Jacksonville Jaguars next week, and they need to address these issues to build on the momentum from this win. A complete, consistent 60 minutes of football is the goal, especially as they gear up for a significant AFC matchup. Excitement is building as we anticipate how this team will continue to evolve in the coming weeks.