Five Takeaways From The Steelers Week Three Win
Nobody saw it coming, but the Steelers are heading into Indianapolis next week with a chance to move to 4-0 on the season. They gutted out the week three win at home against the Chargers by a score of 20-10 with the offense stepping up when they needed to. Arthur Smith said the dam would soon bust, and it looks like Pittsburgh took a step towards that in week three.
5. Injuries Suck
The game featured a plethora of injuries on both sides and hopefully, none of them are serious. The Chargers lost rookie sensation Joe Alt to an ankle injury and Rashawn Slater to a pectoral injury. Justin Herbert also re-aggravated his ankle sprain and had to exit the game.
The Steelers suffered a blow when Alex Highsmith exited with a groin injury and Van Jefferson left with an eye problem. Jaylen Warren is also set to get an MRI on his knee. Injuries suck.
4. Najee Harris Wants His Money
Najee Harris has been stacking good games for the Steelers with Warren banged up. Against the Chargers he rushed the ball 18 times for 70 yards for an average of 3.9 yards per attempt. His 21-yard run out of the two-minute warning sealed the game for Pittsburgh and let them set up victory formation. Cordarelle Patterson also helped with his four rushes for 33 yards. Harris is playing with a chip on his shoulder after not getting his fifth-year option.
3. Pittsburgh Still On Top Of The North
Everybody counted them out and after three weeks the Steelers sit atop the AFC North once again. The Browns got carved up by Daniel Jones and the Giants but the Ravens beat the Cowboys in a close game. The Bengals are favored against the Commanders on Monday, it looks like Pittsburgh will roll into week four with a two-game lead on the rest of the division with the Colts in their sights.
2. Steelers Defense Is Top 3
Once again, the Steelers defense came to play. Through three weeks, nobody has been able to score over ten points on the Steelers. Even though they lost Highsmith, Nick Herbig came in and made an instant impact. He was able to get two tackles for loss, two sacks, and a forced fumble.
Cam Heyward also had two tackles for loss and added a sack of his own. Of course, TJ Watt got a sack. Elandon Roberts also found his way to the backfield to get one. The Steelers had seven tackles for loss and five sacks as a team. This unit is legit and if the offense can keep them off the field, they’re going to be a problem for the NFL.
1. Steelers Have Found Their QB1
A new QB1 has emerged in Pittsburgh and his name is Justin Fields. Russell Wilson might not have a job when his calf injury fully heals. In the win against the Chargers, Fields became the fourth quarterback in Steelers history to start a season 3-0, joining Terry Bradshaw, Neil O’Donnell, and Ben Roethlisberger. That’s some pretty elite company to be in.
The Chargers entered the week three game as the sixth-best pass defense and Fields threw that right out the window. He went 25/32 for 245 yards and one touchdown pass, a 66-yard strike to Calvin Austin. His one interception was just an unlucky bounce. Fields also added a rushing touchdown, his first as a Steeler. The man who only won ten games over three seasons in Chicago already has three in Pittsburgh.
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