The highly anticipated early-season matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) and the Cincinnati Bengals (1-1) may not have had the pre-game vitriol or in-game bad blood with Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict missing due to a suspension, but that didn’t stop the game from being another tight contest where victory wasn’t seized until the final moments.
A controversial ruling on a fumble by Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd when Cincinnati was attempting to drive for a tying score late in the game would seal a sometimes sloppy, albeit impressive, 24-16 Steelers victory yesterday on a rain-soaked Heinz Field.
Much like in Pittsburgh’s win over Washington, there was plenty to like from the Steelers’ performance. Let’s look at the best and worst from Week 2.
Three up:
Strong start for Steelers’ secondary: Can you imagine the defense having only one sack after two weeks yet still being able to say the Steelers’ pass defense has been solid? Sure, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton threw for 366 yards and local hero Boyd (who went to Pitt) led all wideouts with six catches, but Pittsburgh’s secondary had a tremendous day, nonetheless.
Cornerback Ross Cockrell was the player of the game on defense. Shadowing one of the league’s best wideouts in A.J. Green, Cockrell held Green to two catches for a measly 38 yards. Cockrell used his large frame to his advantage in coverage and is proving to be a reliable starter at a position where the Steelers are desperate for production.
Rookie corner Artie Burns saw plenty of action, and though he was called for pass interference early, he showed signs of why he was selected him in the first round. The fact that he is seeing this much playing time this early and is doing well is a positive sign moving forward.
Sean Davis is another rookie making an even bigger splash in the secondary. The kid looks the part of a veteran safety, and it looks as if the team trusts him to play as a cover safety in a number of nickel and dime packages. His versatility is impressive.
Finally, Robert Golden is proving naysayers wrong with another solid performance that ended with hard hits and eight credited tackles.
Special teams has been lights out through two weeks: Punter Jordan Berry was as good as anyone on the field yesterday, and in a game that featured 17 punts, Berry’s ability to pin the Bengals deep with five punts inside the 20 was crucial in a one-score game.
Special teams coach Danny Smith has taken plenty of heat, but the third phase was fantastic all day, highlighted by Berry, but also tremendous in return coverage. Gold star to Sammie Coates, who will earn praise for his two-catch, 97-yard day on offense, but it was a number of tremendous plays on special teams that caught my eye.
All’s lost without HEEEAAATTTHH? Not quite: The loss of Heath Miller and injury to Ladarius Green left serious questions at tight end heading into the regular season, but yesterday’s performance by Jesse James and Xavier Grimble should help answer some of them — at least for now.
James and Grimble may have only combined for six catches and 55 yards, but two of those catches were pivotal touchdown grabs. The continued quality play from the tandem could ease the loss of Green until he’s eligible to join the team mid-season.
Honorable mention: I’d be remiss if the play of the offensive line and DeAngelo Williams wasn’t noted, so they get a special “honorable mention” this week.
Three down:
Not Big Ben’s best: To be fair, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger did what he had to do to get a win, but it wasn’t one of his best games. The Bengals’ defense continues to do a great job against the Steelers’ vaunted offensive attack, and combine that with rainy conditions, and Roethlisberger was off in Sunday’s game.
Accuracy was the biggest issue in the wet conditions, and it was most noteworthy on several missed opportunities to connect with Antonio Brown, who finished with four catches for 39 yards. Either way, Roethlisberger still found a way to throw three TDs, and both of his interceptions were relatively harmless in retrospect.
Still no pass rush for the Steelers: Two games in, the Steelers have one sack (generously credited to Arthur Moats on a tackle for loss), and the lack of pressure could eventually be a major problem as the season progresses. Where will the pressure come from as the season progresses? This will be something to watch carefully for in the weeks ahead.
Outside linebackers unit didn’t have a great day: Moats, James Harrison, Jarvis Jones and Anthony Chickillo combined for eight total tackles and the aforementioned sack but were generally non-existent for most of the game. Although the defensive scheme employed by defensive coordinator Keith Butler continues to evolve and change from what it was in the past under former defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau, the lack of production at the position is concerning.
Image credit: Jared Wickerham/AP Photo
