Steelers’ performance hardly a classic
PITTSBURGH – It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
With all apologies to Charles Dickens and, perhaps, the most notable opening in history in his classic novel, “A Tale of Two Cities,” the same could be said of the Steelers in their season opener Sunday.
Only this was not a classic.
Pittsburgh played perhaps its best half of football in several years against the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field, building a seemingly insurmountable 27-3 halftime lead.
Then, the Browns came storming back, tying the game, 27-27, forcing the Steelers to kick a game-winning field goal as time expired to earn their first opening-game victory in four seasons.
It wasn’t how anyone would have drawn this up, but it was a victory. For that, the Steelers won’t apologize.
“We stepped up when we needed to,” said defensive end Cameron Heyward. “That’s what you need to do in this league.”
But they are also not naïve enough to realize there aren’t issues.
As good as the Steelers looked in the first half, they looked equally as lost in the second.
An offense that was nearly unstoppable in the first 30 minutes, spent much of the final 30 trying to get out of its own way.
A defense that limited Cleveland to one first down on four possessions following the Browns’ opening field goal drive, couldn’t get off the field in the second half – until it came down to the wire.
Cleveland opened the second half in a no-huddle offense, snapping the ball quickly and keeping the Steelers from substituting. It was a page right out of Pittsburgh’s offensive playbook, and it worked like a charm.
“They came out in that no-huddle, and it put us back on our heels,” said Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel. “We have to learn to adjust to that. Those things are going to continue to come. We’ve got to address that and work on it.”
It also should be disconcerting the Browns were gashing the Steelers with their best wide receiver, Josh Gordon, suspended and starting running back, Ben Tate, sidelined with a knee injury suffered in the first half. Even Pro Bowl tight end Jordan Cameron, one of Cleveland’s few offensive weapons, missed time in the second half with a shoulder injury.
That left journeyman quarterback Brian Hoyer, who spent time bouncing around the league – including a short stint with the Steelers in 2012 – throwing to such players as receiver Andrew Hawkins and tight end Jim Dray down the stretch. Rookie running back Terrence West gained 91 of his 100 rushing yards on just 13 second-half carries.
As a whole, it’s a lot easier to deal with those kind of issues coming off a victory than a loss.
And a loss in this game, with the Steelers seemingly in control, would have been the kind that could send a team into a tailspin.
It’s certainly a learning tool.
There will be some things the Steelers can be happy about, such as the performance of second-year players Le’Veon Bell and Markus Wheaton, and cornerback William Gay coming up with some big pass breakups late in the fourth quarter.
But there also will be many examples of things not to like, particularly for a defense that is breaking in a number of new starters.
“It’s about winning,” said Keisel. “It doesn’t matter whether you win 3-0 or 30-27. We’ll take the win and enjoy it.”
F. Dale Lolley can be reached at dlolley@observer-reporter.com.