Steelers Command Washington: Post-Game Report

For last weekend’s Pittsburgh Steelers game vs. the Washington Commanders, I had predicted a final score of 27-13 in favor of the Black and Gold. Sure enough, 27 points were scored but not by the Steelers rather the Commanders. However, Pittsburgh was one point better for a narrow 28-27 final.

The game was a see-saw battle and while it was a hotly contested game, the score may have been different if not for a fumble at the goal line by Jaylen Warren and a fake punt on fourth down that failed giving the Commanders the ball deep in Steelers territory that led to a score. Had Warren scored or the Steelers retained the ball and had another chance, they would have most likely punched it in and had the fake punt worked perhaps that would have led to a field goal or another score. Therefore, the score could have been 42-20 or maybe 38-10 depending on what the result of that fake punt drive would have been.

For anyone questioning Mike Tomlin and Arthur Smith’s decision to go for a fake deep in their own territory on fourth down, my opinion is that yes it was a very risky call but a gutsy one that most Steelers fans should embrace. Screw the conservative approach and go for the jugular at every chance. That’s a philosophy that should sit well with everyone in Steelers Nation. As Mile Killebrew threw the fourth down pass to Jame Pierre, it was a ball that Pierre had in his hands but dropped it. If he doesn’t lose grip on the ball, it’s Steelers first down and the drive continues. Tomlin and Smith would have looked like geniuses so because it didn’t work it wasn’t because it was a bad call, instead it was a bad reception.

There were certainly some questionable calls by the referees, but the game was relatively clean. The Commanders were rolling coming into the game and rookie Jayden Daniels had been wowing people all season. But he was up against an outstanding defense which bent at some times but like they’ve been doing all season just would not break. Pittsburgh’s ‘D sacked Daniels three times and kept his rating to a low 68.5. He missed half of his 34 pass attempts and finished with 202 yards. Pittsburgh’s defense hit Daniels six times with Cameron Heyward getting two of the three sacks and newcomer Preston Smith the other.

Speaking of fresh faces, what about Mike Williams? He not only adds size to Russell Wilson’s armory, but he scores the game winner on a beautiful pass and catch from Wilson. It was his only reception of the day, a 32-yard balloon from Wilson thrown perfectly. On the other side, George Pickens. This season thus far Pickens is putting on a show. His uncanny abilities to toe tap and stay in bounds as well as contort his body in order to catch the ball is just so much fun to watch. As I’ve said before it brings back memories of Lynn Swann.

In Washington Pickens hauled in five passes for 91 yards, one touchdown, and averaged 18.2 yards per reception. In the air, Calvin Austin added two receptions for 20 yards, Warren two more for 29 yards including a 26-yarder, and Pat Freiermuth another 17 yards on three receptions. Zach Frazier was back on the field after an injury and the offensive line was tremendous. While Najee Harris’s per carry number was only 2.5, he still ran hard and it’s always nice to have an alternative go to guy which Harris has in Warren. Warren picked up 66 yards on the day resulting in a per-carry average of 4.7. Shades of Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier come to mind.

Perhaps the most incredible play of the day came on the final play of the game with the Steelers leading by one and facing a fourth down and one from the Washington 49. Instead of punting and giving the Commanders another chance, Mike Tomlin made the decision to go for the first down and ice the game. With Russell Wilson barking out the signals it was his hope that he could draw a Washington defender to jump and go offsides. Bingo. Rookie defensive lineman Jer’Zhan Newton provided the Steelers exactly what the doctor ordered, jumping the gun, and being flagged for a neutral zone infraction giving the Steelers a first down and the game.

The one thing I learned from this game is that the Washington Commanders are for real. The Steelers were just the better team. While there are still skeptics out there doubting Pittsburgh’s chances in the playoffs there are others considering the Black and Gold to be serious contenders. I’m onboard with that. Since Russell Wilson has taken over, the team has an entirely different attitude. Wilson has made everyone around him, including the defense, believe this team should be taken seriously. Adding Mike Williams to the offense and Preston Smith to the defense has clearly shown these were worthy additions. Both players impacted the victory in Washington.

As for George Pickens, having Wilson throwing the ball to him has made Pickens develop into the elite receiver he was believed to be. He is making incredible plays and has made himself a difficult receiver to defend against. That and he is just one player in the weapons Russell Wilson has at his disposal. The difference between Justin Fields and Russell Wilson is obvious. Experience, savvy, ability to throw the perfect pass. While Wilson did not have his best game in his three starts against the Commanders, he was able to keep his composure and make big plays when needed. That and keep in mind, this dude won a Super Bowl with Seattle. That counts for a lot. He knows how and what it takes to win.

A key to winning football games is the offense winning the time of possession and the defense making big stops and keeping an opponent from scoring to a point where the game gets out of hand. In this last game, the Steelers once again won the TOP (time of possession). The final mark was 36:11 to Washington’s 23:49. All the other stats were very close from each team. But Mike Williams’s amazing touchdown with just 2:22 to go, shows the calmness from Russell Wilson and the ability of Williams to get in the game plan of a team he just joined the week before. 

It's hard to believe that T.J. Watt didn’t make on tackle in Washington but that’s not certainly a negative we should be concerned about. That’s because the entire Steelers defense is so loaded with talent that even when Watt is having an off day, his teammates are picking up the slack. Patrick Queen had a great game leading all tacklers with six solos and seven tackles two for a loss. Everyone else who made a tackle impacted what took place on defense: DeShon Elliott, Joey Porter Jr., Elandon Roberts, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Preston Smith, Larry Ogunjobi, Beanie Bishop and Cam Heyward.

One thing I observed in this game is the camaraderie that has developed even more since Russell Wilson became QB1. Watching the game last Sunday when one player made a big play or scored a touchdown there were his teammates helping him celebrate. The concern about George Pickens having an attitude or being a prima donna those days are behind him. Credit to Russell Wilson for helping him become a better teammate. All that off-season talk about Wilson being a bad teammate in Denver only speaks to those in Denver who for whatever reason began that silly conversation. Wilson has been an outstanding teammate and leader thus far and while Justin Fields is a great athlete and a solid quarterback, he has a long way to go to become what Russell Wilson is today.

In a final word and looking ahead, this next weekend is showdown weekend in the ‘Burgh. The mighty Baltimore Ravens come to town with a 7-3 record, sharing the same number of victories as the Steelers but with one more loss in the standings. You know Patrick Queen is already amped about facing his former team from just one season ago and T.J. Watt must be itching to get a sack after being shut out in Washington. The Ravens will be expected to be the victors, but the Pittsburgh Steelers can make a major statement by defeating Baltimore as well as with a victory can push the Ravens into a difficult spot being two losses down in the loss column as well as dropping their second AFC North divisional game.



I am unable to finish this column without mentioning the fans. This is a song that never ends. Every road game the Steelers play, I find myself praising Steelers Nation. While watching the game last Sunday I know I heard chants of “Here We Go Steelers…Here We Go” in Washington. Incredible. Once again hats off and kudos to the Steelers faithful that attended the game and made more noise than did the hometown fans of the Commanders. I challenge anyone anywhere to tell me about a fan base in any sport greater than Steelers Nation. It simply does not exist.