The Pittsburgh Steelers’ impressive 7-2 record this season has been fueled by their tough, disciplined defense and ability to capitalize on their opponents’ mistakes. While no team is completely error-free, the Steelers’ strength lies in making fewer critical errors than the ones they force on their competition, a lesson the Washington Commanders experienced firsthand in a tough home loss. Despite the Steelers committing a couple of costly mistakes themselves, they managed to walk away with the win, underscoring their resilience and ability to stay focused on victory.
The Steelers’ game wasn’t without its own blunders, as evidenced by a couple of critical mishaps that nearly gave Washington a chance to capitalize. Early in the game, James Pierre dropped a surefire fake punt that set up Washington’s first touchdown, while a goal-line fumble by Jaylen Warren in the fourth quarter further threatened Pittsburgh’s lead. However, despite these missteps, the Steelers held their ground. In the final moments, Washington’s Johnny Newton was called for an offside penalty, a costly mistake that sealed their fate, though the game may have already been out of reach by then.
The Commanders struggled offensively throughout the game, finding it nearly impossible to make headway against Pittsburgh’s staunch defense. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, known for his defensive acumen, had prepared his squad well, rendering Washington’s quarterback Jayden Daniels unable to create explosive plays, especially with his legs. While Newton’s penalty was pivotal, it was one of several costly errors by Washington that shifted the game in Pittsburgh’s favor. On Pittsburgh’s first scoring drive, Washington’s defense contributed to their own undoing with two significant penalties—Benjamin St-Juste’s defensive pass interference and Jeremy Chinn’s roughing the passer infraction—both of which extended Pittsburgh’s possession and led to a touchdown.
Washington’s ongoing struggle with special teams was also evident, as Olamide Zaccheaus mishandled two punts in the first half. Although he recovered the first, he lost the second, allowing Pittsburgh to capitalize with another touchdown. Zaccheaus’ inconsistency with fielding punts has been an issue throughout the season, and his struggles raised questions about his role in this position. Meanwhile, wide receiver Dyami Brown dropped a potential touchdown pass just before halftime, a misstep that was momentarily offset by an Austin Ekeler touchdown shortly after. However, another dropped pass from Zach Ertz later in the game on a well-placed throw deprived Washington of a crucial scoring opportunity, leaving them to settle for a field goal instead of a game-securing touchdown.
Washington’s offensive challenges were exacerbated by dropped passes from other receivers, notably Luke McCaffrey, who missed a catch that could have extended an essential drive. The offensive struggles continued as John Bates committed a holding penalty on a significant run by Chris Rodriguez Jr. late in the game when the Commanders were fighting to maintain their narrow lead. This penalty set Washington back and limited their ability to control the clock, thus losing precious field position in a crucial moment.
St-Juste’s day went from bad to worse when he allowed Mike Williams to get past him for the game-winning touchdown. Although he possesses potential, his inconsistency has raised concerns about his reliability as a starting cornerback. Ertz’s miscue on the game-deciding fourth down, where he failed to gain enough yardage, added to the team’s list of frustrations, compounded by a spot that seemed questionable and possibly misjudged by the officials.
Even without key players on their offensive line and their primary ball carrier, Washington showed flashes of determination. Still, this loss stood out as the first time this season when they had a real opportunity to claim a win but fell short due to their own mistakes. Jayden Daniels, typically reliable under pressure, couldn’t muster the needed comeback magic this time. Had Washington minimized their errors, Daniels might have found a way to secure the victory.
For Washington, this game could serve as a learning experience, highlighting the importance of reducing self-inflicted errors to succeed in close contests. Head coach Dan Quinn has shown resilience in getting his team to rebound after losses this season, and he’ll face that challenge again as they quickly prepare for a high-stakes Thursday night matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, a pivotal game that could redefine their 2024 season aspirations.
