PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Still with problems and communication issues, the Steelers defense made enough impact plays to get the team to 3-1 after a 24-21 win over the Vikings in Dublin, Ireland.
For the first couple of weeks, Steelers were waiting for the highest paid defense in the NFL to deliver splash. Allowing 32 points to the Jets and then 31 in a loss to Seattle, they continue to give up some big plays and are making mistakes, but held one of the most talented offenses in the league to just a pair of touchdowns Sunday.
Even when Minnesota got the ball late, linebacker Nick Herbig caused an intentional grounding penalty and safety DeShon Elliott tipped the last pass away for a third victory, all away from Pittsburgh.
The impact started on the first Vikings series on a play that didn’t end up counting. Safety Chuck Clark stripped the ball from Minnesota tailback Jordan Mason and Jalen Ramsey returned it 61 yards for a score. Upon review, Mason touched the ball with his foot out of bounds negating the touchdown and turnover. But on the same series a blitzing Patrick Queen sacked Carson Wentz, the Vikings got three points on a field goal, but were held out of the end zone.
Herbig got the sack that forced a punt on the second series. While the Vikings got a fourth down conversion on the next series, an Elliott interception ended any threat. Even after giving up a big pass play and a roughing the passer penalty, the defense was able to hold Minnesota to a second field goal.
Wentz was 16-20 for 154 yards, Justin Jefferson had eight receptions on eight targets for 97 yards and yet no touchdowns in the first half.
Steelers defense set the tone in the second half as well as Payton Wilson beat a center block on a screen for a tackle for loss and Queen brings pressure as Keeanu Benton and Herbig combined on a sack for a three-and-out.
As the Vikings started to get a little momentum on the next series, Elliott, back from injury this week, strips the ball from Wentz and even though Minnesota recovered, it put them behind the sticks. Watt took advantage, bringing pressure getting to Wentz and cleaned up by Benton. It brought up a 3rd and 16, Watt and Heyward pushed pressure, tipping the ball at the line that Watt intercepted and returned to the Vikings 35.
Even when Ramsey left with what appeared to be a hamstring injury, Benton got a sixth Steelers sack of the game to stop another series.
Vikings would score on a third-down play in the red zone to cut the lead to 10. Then more of those communication issues as Jordan Addison was left wide open behind the defense, but even with that busted play, Payton Wilson’s hustle stopped Addison at the one-yard line. While the Vikings would eventually score, it was on third down, running 1:13 off the clock. That would turn out to be critical as the game ended with Minnesota getting the ball with 1:02 to play.
“We are getting there,” Heyward said. “Week Four we are not done and we have a lot of room to improve, but I like the way we are trending.”
“Trying to find any way to get to the quarterback, trying to impact the game as much as possible,” Watt said. “I thought Herbig had a hell of a game at the other side. I thought Keeanu had a hell of a game inside. Obviously Cam pushing the pocket inside.”
“It really doesn’t matter who eats. We are going to see a lot of max protection. The guys in the back end did a hell of a job covering. I thought even PQ and Payton and Elliott when they were blitzing were huge.”
“We were just playing fast football. We knew what we were doing today and were flying around.”
There is still work to do, but players are stepping up and they found a way to win two straight. Here are some defensive stats from Sunday.
· Payton Wilson game-high 11 tackles (8 solo), 2 tackles for loss, quarterback hurry
· Patrick Queen 8 tackles, sack, 2 tackles for loss, quarterback hurry
· DeShon Elliott 6 tackles, sack, interception, tackle for loss, pass defensed, 2 QB hurries
· Nick Herbig 5 tackles, 1.5 sacks, tackles for loss, 2 QB hurries
· TJ Watt 5 tackles, sack, interception, tackle for loss, pass defensed, 2 QB hurries
· Keeanu Benton 4 tackles, 1.5 sacks, tackle for loss, 3 quarterback hurries
Open week this week before the start of AFC North football hosting the Browns next month.