Takeaways: Steelers surge in second half for win over Rams
Steel City Underground presents post-game takeaways from every Pittsburgh Steelers game of the 2023 NFL regular season.
On Sunday afternoon, at SoFi Stadium during Week 7 of the 2023 NFL regular season, the Pittsburgh Steelers found their mojo when a second half surge powered them to a come-from-behind 27-17 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Both teams played tough defense as their offenses tried to find a rhythm in the first half, but it was the Steelers who were able to find the end zone at the opportune moments in the final half to take the win.
Najee isn’t busted, run game alive
The word “bust” has been thrown around a lot this season by Steelers fans when it related to running back Najee Harris. Some of the negativity was due to Jaylen Warren having made some outstanding plays in games that Harris appeared to stall in. On Sunday, Harris and Warren – as a dual back committee – showed that the run game in Pittsburgh is alive when blocking by the offensive line is improved.
Watch the 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive that resulted in a Najee Harris touchdown that put the #Steelers up 24-17 over the Rams in the fourth quarter.
Click to watch ⬇️https://t.co/07wjiIc4G6
— Steelers Live (@SteelersLive) October 23, 2023
Johnson’s return gave offense a lift
If there are doubts in Steelers Nation that receiver Diontae Johnson isn’t one of the best route runners in the NFL, he certainly showcased how mistaken they are in this game. Johnson has the ability to flex his hips to get defenders off their lane of coverage, and the Rams were caught several times getting juked out of position.
Great throw and route 👌 #steelers #kennypickett #diontaejohnson
— Matthew Luciow (@matthewluciow92) October 22, 2023
Johnson also displayed an ability to redirect his route to help quarterback Kenny Pickett deliver passes in coverage and under pressure. With Johnson on the field, the offensive playbook appeared to open up and create opportunities for Pickett to find other targets. That gave the Steelers a lift offensively in a win they needed coming out of the bye in Week 6.
Watt is almost unreal
T.J. Watt should be in NFL Defensive Player of the Year discussion, and he may get an AFC DPOW nod for Week 7. Going hand-to-hand against the Los Angeles offensive line and other blockers thrown at him down after down couldn’t keep Watt from continuing to be disruptive.
What makes Watt almost unreal is that, despite the physicality required of him from the EDGE position, he was able to step back into coverage and jump into a passing route to grab a Matthew Stafford throw for his first interception this season and seventh of his career.
TRENT JORDAN WATT WITH THE INT 🙌
📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/T87FSng3KS pic.twitter.com/4kyrrtYOfP
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 22, 2023
Other Week 7 takeaways
The Steelers and Rams entered this game relatively evenly matched. Their defenses were bending and trying not to break. Their offenses were trying to get in sync. They’d hurt themselves with mistakes and then take advantage of an opponent’s miscues.
On Sunday, the Steelers adjusted at halftime and came alive in the second half to resemble what fans had been anticipating since the season began: a team that could compete and succeed in all aspects of the game.
“It always is a fight. Sometimes, it is man versus himself. Sometimes, it’s man versus opponent.” – Mike Tomlin
Pickett looked like he’d grabbed hold of the spirit of confidence in the fourth quarter. It was the fifth time in his young career that he rallied Pittsburgh from behind, or a tie game, for a win (tied for second-most in the NFL since the beginning of the 2022 season per Michael Bertsch, Steelers PR). Aaron Donald was coming straight at Pickett several times but he stood under pressure and delivered a number of strikes. He also grabbed his first rushing touchdowns of the season.
Pickett takes it in the end zone himself
📺: #PITvsLAR on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/iTs8HMaXlh pic.twitter.com/QSVadfCbnu— NFL (@NFL) October 22, 2023
QBs in final 20 minutes:
Matt Stafford: 0-6, 0 yards
Kenny Pickett: 9-9, 140 yards #Steelers #Rams— Josh Rowntree (@JRown32) October 23, 2023
The Steelers had contributions across the board, which is always a plus. It wasn’t just the usual cast that shone on the stage in Week 7. As a result, Pittsburgh earned the team win.
The AFC North remains a tight race as the Steelers moved to 4-2, with the Baltimore Ravens (5-2) and Cleveland Browns (4-2) also winning their games while the Cincinnati Bengals (3-3) were taking their bye.
