The Pittsburgh Steelers must own stock in defibrillators. After falling behind in Week 7 by six points just before the half, the Steelers caught a break when Los Angeles Rams kicker, Brett Maher yanked an extra point attempt wide. It was his second of three missed scoring opportunities that would come back to bite the Rams at the end of the game.
Ben Solomon / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' TJ Watt's interception sets up the first rushing touchdown of the season for the Steelers in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Rams.
During the opening drive of the second half of the Week 7 matchup, the Rams and Matthew Stafford discovered what happens when you let the Steelers hang around in games. TJ Watt dropped into coverage, intercepted a pass, and returned it to the six-yard line. Three plays and an extra point later, the Steelers took a one-point lead. The defense bailed out the Steelers for the third time this year when a takeaway generated critical points.
Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin Follows Through With Plan To Start Dan Moore Jr. Against Rams
The coaching staff did not do much right for the first three quarters. They elected to receive the opening kickoff and went three and out. Broderick Jones sat on the bench watching Dan Moore Jr. Despite having one of the biggest tight ends in the league, they insisted on playing Connor Heyward, the smallest. Heyward was beaten badly as a blocker multiple times, but did make a key catch on the game-winning drive.
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Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin after Steelers 24-17 win in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Steelers' game plan seems to revolve around keeping the game close enough until one of their stars, usually Watt, makes a play. After the game, Head Coach Mike Tomlin said the quiet part out loud when he responded to a question about the NFL single-season sack record holder's impact on the game at the postgame press conference.
“If you watch us play, that’s what always happens. TJ is an A player,” Tomlin began. “He is capable of inspiring his teammates. He’s capable of making game-turning plays. I don’t think any of us who work with him are surprised by that.”
The Steelers defense was gashed in the running game for 135 yards by Royce Freeman and Darrell Henderson Jr. The Steelers consciously tried to remove Cooper Kupp and were mostly successful, although it allowed Puka Nacua to put up impressive numbers. Pittsburgh’s defense is one of the highest-paid units in the league. However, the scheming of Teryl Austin and Tomlin's defense, along with personnel decisions have come under fire this season.
The numbers don’t lie for a team that has won only one game without Watt in the lineup since they drafted him. The Steelers are 63-28-2 with the All-Pro in the lineup. They are 1-10 without him, including a 1-6 stretch last season. The Steelers spend a lot of money on defense, but give up more than a touchdown to teams without Watt on the field. Is the Steelers' defensive plan to wait for Watt to wreck the game?
Associated Press
Steelers' TJ Watt walks off the field in Week 7 with another splash play and victory.
On several national morning shows, Tomlin got a lot of credit for the victory against the Rams. It isn’t an unusual phenomenon. ESPN’s Get Up show featuring Mike Greenberg, Ryan Clark, Dan Orlovsky and Rex Ryan were especially giddy about why the Steelers won on Sunday.
“We are the most accidentally winning football team in the world, baby. 'Cause of Mike Tomlin,” Clark gushed. “TJ Watt not only makes plays the entire game, he makes game-changing plays.”
“That play by TJ Watt, I honestly think, is one of the best plays of the season so far,” Orlovsky added. "Think about it: TJ Watt has won two games as an outside linebacker, defensive end.”
The two former players on the panel used their remarks to place credit for the victory at Watt’s feet, and the interception was a huge play in the game. It allowed them to turn a 9-3 halftime deficit into a 10-9 lead early in the third quarter. However, by the time the fourth quarter rolled around, they trailed 17-10 and needed their best offensive quarter since Ben Roethlisberger retired to pull out a victory.
“Guys, to Greenie’s point, they have been outgained by 660 yards this year,” Ryan observed. “They are Tomlining.”
“They are 2-0 in the division. They are Tomlining their way into a season that nobody thinks they should have,” Greenberg concluded the segment. “The secret is he is an elite coach, and people need to talk about it more.”
The panel's willingness to credit Tomlin and, by extension, Austin and Matt Canada is a mind-blowing observation. The Steelers coaching staff has been under constant duress this season. “Fire Canada” chants break out with alarming regularity in multiple settings. In fairness, Canada put together his best quarter as an offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh.
Matt Freed / Post-Gazette
Steelers offense is in real trouble under Matt Canada and Mike Tomlin.
A majority of the fan base who watches every down is not remotely satisfied with how the team is being coached and is growing increasingly impatient. The Steelers are a national brand; winning despite coaching with the talent on the roster is a humbling experience. Pittsburgh isn’t feared right now. They are being turned into a national joke, and fans are told they should be grateful for it. It isn’t funny, and worse yet, it will not end during 2023.
The real question is if they are being outplayed by such a significant margin, the obvious question is why? If the defense’s productivity boils down to counting on Watt to make a play to win the game, why does an unprepared coaching staff get the credit? The more pressing question is whether Art Rooney II and Omar Khan are prepared to watch a once proud franchise morph into a laughingstock while they figure out the answer.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Did the victory over the Rams give you hope for the 2023 season, or are you still skeptical? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
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