The first half was competitive, but the Steelers’ defense took over in the second, shutting out Atlanta and holding them to well under 100 yards of offense. Kirk Cousins looked like a shell of the quarterback he was prior to tearing his Achilles with the Vikings in the middle of the last season, and Zac Robinson fell flat on his face in his first opportunity to call plays. The entire group looked like they could have benefited from more preseason reps, but Raheem Morris continues to defend his decision to not play his starters at all prior to Week 1.
Defensively, there at least were some bright spots. The Falcons’ defense didn’t allow a single touchdown, despite being put in some abysmal positions following three turnovers from the offense. Justin Fields, and particularly George Pickens, had some moments. But for the most part, not much more can be expected. Anytime you prevent a team from reaching the end zone for four quarters, you’re going to win 90% of those games.
However, on both sides of the ball, there was really only one standout performer. The veteran Grady Jarrett returned for the first time since tearing his ACL last year, and if there were any concerns about a 31-year-old returning from his first significant injury, those have already been put to rest. He was one of the few members of the defense that stood out from start to finish, finishing the game with 1.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits.
Some others also had noteworthy performances. Kaden Elliss continues to play like the best linebacker nobody talks about. Troy Andersen and Nate Landman were also very impressive. But given Jarrett’s situation, nobody deserves a game ball more than the two-time Pro-Bowler.
The guy is a machine with a motor that ticks a little bit faster and longer than everyone else. He deserves the opportunity to play for a competitive team. Hopefully, the Falcons can bounce back and give him that this year, but the road doesn’t get any easier with the Eagles on the road coming up this Monday, and the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football after that.
—
Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
You must log in to post a comment.