The Pittsburgh Steelers took a brutal 27-24 loss in Cleveland on Thursday night. Talk about a gut punch. After fighting back to tie the game with just over a minute to play, they couldn’t close it out, falling short against the Browns on Thursday Night Football and dropping to 2-2 on the season.
Bright Spots Emerge Amidst the Chaos
Despite the tough loss, some individual players are absolutely shining early in the season, and you have to love seeing it. Wide receiver Roman Wilson, after catching a 38-yard touchdown last weekend against Cincinnati and then getting benched for most of the second half due to an interception that bounced off his hands, was back in the thick of it. The Steelers weren’t afraid to go to him, and it paid off. He snagged a 12-yard touch pass for the game’s first score. Later on, Rodgers hit Wilson for a massive 49-yard chunk gain up the seam. The kid’s inconsistencies are still there, but two consecutive games with a score? That’s a huge bright spot.
Then there’s tight end Darnell Washington, who continues to be one of the most impactful players on that offense. His 21-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter was electric. When it came down to the game-tying drive, Washington was Rodgers’ go-to, targeted on three straight plays. He even drew a defensive pass interference penalty in the end zone that set up the Steelers to eventually tie the game. Washington is a matchup nightmare, and it’s clear he’s getting more and more work.
Rodgers Takes a Beating While the Line Stumbles
You have to give it up for Aaron Rodgers. “Unc still got it,” for real. The Steelers looked dead and buried, down 24-10 deep into the fourth quarter, but Rodgers absolutely willed them back. For all the times his age showed up in the pocket, he rolled out and delivered a strike to Washington in the end zone to kick off that incredible fourth-quarter comeback. Then he led another drive downfield, tossing a touchdown on a bootleg to Pat Freiermuth. And let’s not forget Head Coach Mike McCarthy’s gutsy call for the two-point conversion after the penalty from Cleveland; Rodgers found just enough room to sneak in, even without a big push from his offensive line. The Steelers don’t even sniff a tie in that game without Rodgers, who took a serious beating tonight.
Which brings us to the offensive line. It was a messy game for them as a unit. Rodgers was sacked five times and took a brutal 10 quarterback hits. That’s a serious beating. While they deserve some credit for Jaylen Warren running the ball incredibly well, averaging 5.5 yards per carry, the constant pressure and hits on Rodgers put the team in a hole that ultimately proved too deep to climb out of.
The Kicker’s Wobble
Adding to the frustration, kicker Chris Boswell missed his third field goal of the season in Week 4. A 48-yard attempt went wide left. It’s early, and definitely not time to panic or sell any stock on him just yet, but that’s a tough miss in a close game.
Dropping to 2-2 on the season isn’t where you want to be, especially after a game that felt like it was within reach. This team has some serious talent showing up, but the pieces need to click consistently. Time to regroup and come out swinging next time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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