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Steelers-Titans Recap: The Good, the Bad & the almost very Ugly

Yinzer Crazy • October 26, 2020
If I would have told you back in August that on October 26th the Pittsburgh Steelers would be the last unbeaten in the National Football League you would have absolutely taken it.
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Yet, some fans are still frustrated with the way yesterday unfolded - considering the Steelers nearly blew a 20 point lead for the first time in the history of their illustrious franchise. 

Entering yesterdays contest against the 5-0 Tennessee Titans, they were 224-0-1 all time when leading in a game by 20 or more points.

They are now 225-0-1, following a missed 45 yard field goal by Titans kicker Stephen Gostkowski, who has just made 5 of 11 kicks inside of 50 yards this season (see video above for all of our reaction's).

The kick would have tied the game at 27 at the end of regulation.

It Cost-kowski the Titans a shot at winning in overtime - and I think they had an excellent chance at doing just that considering all of the momentum that was fully swung to their side. 

The Steelers players are currently feeling similar emotions to that of the fans. 

Happy - but not completely satisfied. 

Let’s break it down a bit more in our weekly - The Good, the Bad & the Ugly recap.


The Good 

The Steelers Run Defense

It’s been well documented by now just how good Titans running-back Derrick Henry is.

Entering the game he ranked first in the NFL in both rushing attempts and yards. 

He also led the league in rushing in 2019. 

The Steelers had been the best in the league defending the run.

Something had to give.

And it was the front seven of the black and gold that won the key round in this match.

They held Henry to his second lowest rushing total in the last 16 game - totaling just 75 yards on 20 carries, good for 3.8 yards a touch.

In comparison, the previous Sunday against the Houston Texans, Henry averaged nearly 10 yards per carry.

James Conner also had 20 carries. 

He ran for 82 yards.

We knew the game would be determined in the trenches and for the most part it was, due to the ability of the Steelers to shut down one of the best in the league on his home-turf.


Ben Roethlisberger, Diontae Johnson and Randy Fichtner - in the 1st Half

In his return from a two game absence wide-out Diontae Johnson had the Titans defense running around like a Nashville hot chicken with its head cut-off in the first quarter.

On the Steelers opening drive Ben Roethlisberger found Johnson for an 11 yard touchdown where he threaded the needle beautifully for the score.

I found it odd that Head Coach Mike Tomlin elected to receive the opening kickoff, given that the team that typically wins it generally defers to the second half.

He knew he wanted to get Ben into a rhythm early - and it couldn't have worked out any better.

It was the Steelers first opening drive touchdown since week 15 of 2018 - a span of 23 games. 

Fichtner and Ben were inventive and had the offense humming. 

Roethlisberger started out 10 of 12 and looked sharp and decisive. 

They out-gained the Titans 130-1 in terms of first quarter yardage.

And all of it helped amount to a 24-7 halftime lead for the second straight week. 

But that certainly was far from the end of the story.


The Bad 

Ben Roethlisberger and Randy Fichter - in the 2nd half

For whatever reason the Steelers in 2020 have often seemed to lose their mojo after halftime. 

This is the third second half meltdown the team has had this season - when you factor in the games against Denver and Philadelphia that they nearly lost at Heinz Field.

In four of their six games the Steelers have scored only three or fewer points in the 3rd quarter.

They scored just three total in the entire second half yesterday.

I think just it’s fair to place just as much blame on the offense for those rapidly dissipating second half leads - especially the one yesterday.

Our guy LDW tweeted us saying:

 @LDW4446 ·20h
Replying to @yinzercrazyshow
Now we still need to run the score up on this game to secure it.

And that we did not.

Ben looked rattled after intermission - throwing two key second half interceptions.

The most significant coming at the end of a 16 play drive as the Steelers were looking to put the game away. 

Facing a 3rd and 12 wiith just 2:40 remaining in the 4th, Roethlisberger threw into double-coverage in the end-zone. 

The pass tipped off the hands of JuJu Smith-Schuster, then deflected off of Titans linebacker Jayon Brown and was ultimately intercepted by safety Amani Hooker.

Throwing into double-coverage at that point in the game is inexcusable for any quarterback - let alone a 16 year NFL vet. 

Roethlisberger said after the game that it was “unacceptable.” 

There isn’t a doubt he played poorly in the second half.

I think much of that coincided with the key drops from Diontae Johnson as well as his fourth quarter injury.


The Ugly 

Diontae Johnson’s injury woes 

A few weeks back I wrote a feature on DJ, proclaiming him the most likely of this current group of Steelers wide receivers to turn into the next Antonio Brown, Hines Ward or Lynn Swann. 

A Hall of Fame caliber player.

When healthy - he has proved me right. 

He’s seeing over 30% of the targets when he’s on the field.

The problem has been his lack of being on the field.

Against the Titans, Johnson had 15 targets, 9 catches, 80 yards and two touchdowns prior to exiting the game in the fourth quarter with an apparent ankle injury.

The second most targets in the NFL on Sunday - just behind the Panthers D.J. Moore.

We tweeted yesterday following his first touchdown that we hope you didn’t forget how good 18 is amidst all of the Chase Claypool mania.

Matt Harmon of Yahoo Sports said that when Diontae Johnson is on the field, Roethlisberger treats him like the number one wide-receiver.

I agree.

And the numbers tell the story.

Johnson has played 3 full games.

In these games he has 10, 13 and now 15 targets.

That is good for an average of 12.7 targets per contest.

This would lead the NFL in targets per game.

But you really have to start wondering how often he’ll actually be in the game if the injuries persist. 

I think much of the game-plan by Fichter was designed around DJ yesterday.

The Titans along with the rest of the world were focused on Chase Claypool - and how could they not be. 

But after a few drops by DJ and his injury - the offense was thrown into a bit of a tizzy.

The injury isn’t expected at this point to keep Johnson sidelined for next week - as he stated after the game that it was an ankle bruise and he should be fine to face the Ravens.

But much like this week, it will certainly impact the game-planning and strategy.

Can the Steelers count on him?

What do you think? 

Let us know on social media and we will include at least one response in our Ravens game-preview.

A game in which the 6-0 Steelers will try to stay unbeaten against a Baltimore team coming off of a bye week, and having just added stud defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to the mix.

Ngakoue already has five sacks this season.

The Steelers didn’t allow one sack yesterday against the Titans.

Once more - something’s gotta give. 

We’ve been correct in every Steelers game prediction thus far - and missed yesterday by a point - predicting a 27-25 Steelers victory (they won 27-24).

Stay tuned.






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