While it’s hard to get too worked up about a win, there’s one thing that bothered me about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first two victories: the finishing. This isn’t meant to be an attack on Pittsburgh’s elite defense, which capped its wins with a TJ Watt sack against Atlanta while S Damontae Kazee intercepted Bo Nix to beat Denver.
What gave me problems was the Steelers’ offense. They got the ball too late, failed to play down the remaining time and forced Pittsburgh’s defense to make one last stop. These were strong situations for Pittsburgh, Atlanta and Denver only had a spark of hope left, but you still want the offense to finish the game. And not even give the opponent that last chance. An exclamation mark for your own work, as Mike Tomlin would say.
Mission accomplished against the Los Angeles Chargers. In true four-minute offense fashion, the Steelers held the ball for the final 4:59 minutes of Sunday’s game. They ran the ball seven times, threw just once, and QB Justin Fields had to kneel twice to end the game. Even though Pittsburgh led by two points, that’s exactly what you’re looking for. Have your defense watch from the sidelines.
What made this drive possible was complex. Pittsburgh’s barrage of body blows wore the Chargers down and they ended up Charmin-weak. Credit to running backs Najee Harris and Cordarrelle Patterson, who ran furiously to blow the whistle. A short film of their runs.
Najee Harris
Starting with Harris, who carried the ball three times for 36 yards on the Steelers’ final drive. His two biggest runs, the two seen below, went for 11 and 21 yards. The first showed great vision and lateral movement, Harris leaping left into the open hole and into the second level. Watch as No. 6 gets wobbly legs trying to keep up and collides with a teammate as Harris passes. Harris finishes with his patented hurdle, with his leg grabbed in mid-air but always finding a way to jump back up.
Harris’ other big run nearly ended the game. A 21-yard run in the split zone with a huge push forward as Harris “brings back” the run and cuts it all the way back. On zone runs, a running back has three paths. He can “bounce” the run forward, he can “hit” the run up the middle, or he can “bend/bring back” the run. Harris could have gone wherever he wanted, but he chose the third option because Pat Freiermuth’s run into the flat draws additional defenders (there will be another film room on this idea). It also shows rookie OG Mason McCormick working as a tackle-eligible player.
Here are both runs from Harris.
Cordarrelle Patterson
All four of Patterson’s runs came on this drive. Four runs, 33 yards, over eight yards per run. His first was the decisive one. On third-and-8 with four minutes left, Pittsburgh makes a safe call here. A sweep to the field with Patterson. He reads it, puts his foot on the ground and charges forward, squares his shoulders and finishes powerfully. He runs a little big, but it works.
A few plays later, Patterson only manages four yards, but like Harris, he shows good vision, leaps left and shows a strong completion to get what he can, forcing the Chargers to bring him down. On the next play, he somehow avoids a tackle in the hole and leaps out the other side for 12 yards, another first down and more time off the clock.
Excerpt below.
Credit from everyone. The line, the defenders, the plays. There was even a scene during a timeout where Mike Tomlin brought over TEs Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward. I can’t lip read like a Jomboy, but I’m guessing he said something along the lines of “Let’s finish this thing.”
Tomlin wore a mischievous grin on his face during this drive as he and the offense sensed what was in the air. The Steelers were ready to land the winning blow. The Chargers fought through, the Steelers offense never left the field, and Pittsburgh remains undefeated.
