MIAMI — On the night that the Dolphins honored the 50th anniversary of the 1972 team’s perfect season, the start was anything but perfect for the Steelers.
Miami surgically diced the Steelers’ defense on the opening drive Sunday night, covering 71 yards in just nine plays. Tua TagovailoaHe played for the Steelers in his first game since suffering a head injury on Sept. 29.
Gain of 20 yards by Jaylen Waddle here. Reception from 17 yards Tyreek Hill there. Oh look, there’s tight end Mike Gesicki for 18 yards.
Tagovailoa had already connected with Raheem MostertThe stage seemed to be set for a touchdown of 8 yards. It sure looked like the Steelers’ defense was in for a long night of watching the Dolphins’ dynamic offense celebrate and the prime-time audience crown first-year coach Mike McDaniel as the next great offensive mind. Steelers fans might have been hoping they’d at least have Hill on their fantasy squads to make this bearable.
It’s not so.
During the Steelers’ Hard Rock Stadium: 16-10 defeatThe defense stood firm in the red zone, and was able to get off the field with crucial downs. After the Steelers pitched a shutout in the second half, one could argue defensive coordinator Teryl Austin’s unit deserved better.
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They probably will. Would have received a better result — if not for four dropped interceptions.
Cam Heyward: We didn’t make enough splash play on both sides to win that match. It was the last straw. You are yelling at yourself because there were so many chances to seize this moment.
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) October 24, 2022
Kenny Pickett’s three interceptions (including one on each of his last two series) undid the comeback attempt. But as the reality of a 2-5 start set in, the Steelers’ defenders found themselves looking back at their own what-if moments.
“Oftentimes, particularly when it’s a defensive battle the way that game developed into, it’s about who catches their interception opportunities and who doesn’t,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “That’s kind of the lens in which I see it. They were caught by the Dolphins. We didn’t catch ours. That’s probably the difference in the game.”
Throughout the Steelers’ secondary, opportunities abounded. Levi WallaceAfter missing last week’s game due to a concussion he returned and had the chance to reel in splash plays in two different instances. Terrell EdmundsHe had one of the numbers hit him. Cameron SuttonHe got his hands on an underthrown ball. They did not come down.
“It’s frustrating, when it’s in our hands to make plays and we don’t,” Minkah Fitzpatrick said. “When the ball hits two of your hands, you’ve got to catch it.”
The inability to turn the ball over ruined what was a dramatic turnaround, and a hard-fought effort by the defense. During that opening drive, the Dolphins’ West Coast attack was especially productive in the RPO game. The Steelers made adjustments and the results were good.
It was an amazing turnaround.
The Steelers were able to limit the Dolphins’ third downs success rate to 3-for-13 after that first series. The Steelers kept the Dolphins out the end zone on their remaining red zone trips. That included a critical sequence when the Dolphins led by 6 and faced a third-and-2 from the Steelers’ 13. Cameron HeywardThe play was blown up to force fourth and 3. Then Larry OgunjobiAnd Myles JackWhen they had the opportunity to extend the lead to two, the Dolphins shot gaps and turned over the Dolphins on downs on a series.
.@steelersDefense with a huge 4th down stop #HereWeGo
📺: #PITvsMIANBC
📱Stream NFL+ https://t.co/vDQGJ9SfCd pic.twitter.com/9BNGXf2jdg— NFL (@NFL) October 24, 2022
“We had to take the punch, and we took it,” said Wallace, who banged up his shoulder late. “Then we kind of got into our game and played ball. The second half was great. You know, we didn’t get enough turnovers. That’s on me. I got to catch the balls that are thrown to me.”
Even until the last series, the Steelers’ defense stood up. Pickett led the Steelers’ offense to the cusp of the red zone with a chance to create his first signature moment in the NFL. Pickett was intercepted instead Jevon HollandHe returned the ball to midfield.
At that point, in a six-point game, the Dolphins were a few first downs from getting into field-goal range to ice the game, run out the clock … or both.
“Everything looks bad,” Jack said. “We all run out there. We’re all looking at each other like it’s not over. We’re about to get this stop and put the offense back on the field.”
Sure enough, the Steelers’ defense forced the three-and-out to at least give Pickett and the offense a chance. Pickett’s third interception of game saw that opportunity also pass.
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“At the end of the day they had three turnovers,” Heyward said. “We had zero. You look at that as the difference in the game.”
Zooming out, the Steelers’ defense figured to be the backbone of the team when the season began.
But after you have lost, T.J. Watt at the end of Week 1, that side of the ball hasn’t looked the same. They couldn’t stop the run against them Patriots’Four-minute offense in Week 2. They were then gashed by. BrownsRunning back Nick ChubbWeek 3 saw a 10-point advantage in the fourth quarter disappear against the JetsIn Week 4, we had boat racing by BuffaloIn a 38-point assault.
However, signs of growth have appeared over the past two weeks. The Steelers’ defense made Tom Brady look humanLast week’s performance was a bit too old. This week, we follow it up with this performance against an offensive coordinated by a young man with a lot of weapons.
“I think everything’s coming together,” Jack said. “Guys are figuring out where they need to be. … Coaches, I think, are getting a better feel of what we got it. I feel like it’s all coming together at the same time. We’re a special defense. We’re capable of a lot of things.”
If they had caught some interceptions, you might have believed him when he said that.
(Photo of Terrell Edmonds and Mike Gesicki by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
