Once-Criticized Steelers Coach Deserves Massive Credit After Week 7 Win Versus Jets

The Pittsburgh Steelers won a Sunday Night Football matchup against the New York Jets in dominating fashion in Week 7. The game started out slow for the team, but everything seemed to turn around after a huge Beanie Bishop Jr. interception late in the first half. While the unit faced a two-point deficit at halftime, the final 30 minutes of the game were controlled by Mike Tomlin's group. There have been a lot of moving pieces for the franchise in 2024, however, it was good to see such a complete game. The win sets the franchise up nicely with a record of 5-2.

The offense really found its footing with Russell Wilson leading the way, despite many pundits criticizing Tomlin for turning to the veteran instead of sticking with Justin Fields. One of the reasons why the fan base and media were concerned for Wilson was because of an injured offensive line. Fields was able to escape pressures and make plays with his legs, while Wilson was coming off of a calf injury that had the potential to hinder his ability to run.

Back in training camp, no one had a group of Dan Moore Jr., Isaac Seumalo, Ryan McCollum, Mason McCormick and Broderick Jones starting in Week 7 against the Jets, but that's exactly what happened. McCollum was especially terrific on Sunday evening.

While the big men front weren't perfect and Wilson did have a few plays that saw him running around in the pocket, the quarterback was only sacked once. On top of that, Najee Harris had his second straight game with 100 yards on the ground, which was an incredibly good sight to see. The team will plan to build off the strong offensive play in Week 8 ahead of the bye in Week 9.

Tomlin is receiving a lot of credit for having the nerve to go with Wilson, and special teams coach Danny Smith is also receiving praise for yet another block by his unit. One coach that isn't receiving the applause that he deserves, however, is the man in charge of the offensive line: Pat Meyer. The group looked shaky in the preseason, and it was fair to note that Meyer was quickly on the hot seat.

The line has been flooded with injuries, which many thought would be the downfall of the offense as a whole. On Sunday night, it was one of the strengths and reasons why the offense got to clicking with Wilson under center. By no means was it perfect, but the group showed great fight facing adversity, and helped the team put up 37 points, even if there were some short fields due to Jets turnovers.

McCollum deserves a special shoutout. With Zach Frazier expected to miss a couple weeks with an injury, his backup stepped in and it looked as if the unit didn't miss a beat. Meyer's offensive lines have traditionally taken a while to get going year in and year out, but after Sunday night, it appears as if the big men up front are starting to gel earlier than expected. This is great news for the brand of football that the Steelers want to play.

Steelers' Pat Meyer Deserves A Lot Of Credit

It can still be looked at as a work in progress, but overall, the line is improving each week and looked comfortable with Wilson in at quarterback. Meyer has faced a lot of criticism, but deserves his flowers for his guys' performance against New York. There will continue to be some uncertainty with someone like Frazier working his way back from injury, but a relatively clean pocket and strong running game are exactly what Tomlin and Meyer want.

Were you impressed with the Steelers' offensive line on Sunday night? Let us know in the comments below!

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