Pittsburgh Steelers Report Card: Defensive Line shines, but how good was Justin Fields?

ATLANTA — The Pittsburgh Steelers won just like how everyone thought they would win. They turned their battle with the Atlanta Falcons into a mud fest, with an 18-10 score being the final. Pittsburgh still has not found the end zone, but six Chris Boswell field goals were more than enough to secure the win.

So, how did each position room do? Let’s break it down:

Quarterback: C+

With Russell Wilson out, the Steelers turned to former first-round pick Justin Fields, a dynamic player with bad tendencies. For the most part, the Steelers toned down those tendencies. But there were a few reasons his report card is not better. For one, he two fumbled exchanges. These go on center Zach Frazier and Fields. Two, Fields was late on some passes and missed some reads. His accuracy was only OK, too.

However, he did what he needed to do: make smart decisions with the football. At no point did it ever feel like he was in danger of throwing an interception. Fields used his legs in the right moments to create plays that were otherwise not there, and the team sustained drives. In other words, he was fine and led the Steelers to victory in this game. He could have been better, but this will get the Steelers by on days like this.

Running Back: B

The Steelers’ running backs did not do much, but this grade will primarily go toward Najee Harris. He had one bad drop, but aside from that, he ran hard and was efficient. Harris ended the game with 20 carries for 70 yards but was the lifeblood behind the fourth-quarter surge that ate up lots of clocks in the run game. Jaylen Warren and Cordarrelle Patterson were fine, but Warren was limited by his hamstring injury. Harris ran hard, though, and that is what puts this grade where it is.

Wide Receiver: B+

George Pickens is the sole reason this grade is high. Outside of him, there is not much to buzz about. However, they have a B-plus because of Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek’s special teams contributions. Miller was key in helping to win the game, acting as the backup holder and making an excellent tackle on Chris Boswell’s punt after coming in for the injured Cam Johnston. You could probably give this unit a C- or D+ for actual wide receiver play outside of Pickens. They did not separate much and did not stick out. Pickens looked like a WR1 for two maddening moments, and that is not including the offensive pass interference, which felt soft.

Tight Ends: A-

The tight ends had a good game. For one, there were no edge rushers that took over the game. The Steelers gave some help to Dan Moore Jr. and Broderick Jones against Matt Judon. Each tight end did something noteworthy. MyCole Pruitt had two catches. Pat Freiermuth made a few catches and moved the chains. Connor Heyward had a key block on the QB counter to ice the game. Darnell Washington blocked his behind off. Overall, very solid day.

Offensive Line: B-

The Steelers’ offensive line played well in some aspects. Like Fields, this grade is hurt by the fumbles between him and Frazier. I assign 50 percent of the blame to both. Also, some of their short-yardage failures are something they need to go back on and look at, too. Spencer Anderson was solid as a spot starter. That is what they needed. The rest of the unit was OK. It was not a dominant performance, but they did what was needed and flashed some growth potential.

Defensive Line and Outside Linebackers: A+

I’ll throw the outside linebackers in here because they work as a tandem. Wow, did these guys shine. T.J. Watt took over the game when Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said he would not let that happen. Larry Ogunjobi had one of his best games in a Steelers uniform, racking up two quarterback hits and forcing an interception. Keeanu Benton looked great. Cam Heyward made some key run stuff, and it looks like he has some left in the tank. Montravius Adams gave quality reps off the bench. Overall, not sure how you can be disappointed in this group. They were stars.

Inside Linebackers: A-

Each of the three in the rotation had a play or two that they would want back, including a few missed tackles. So, that dings this a bit. However, Payton Wilson played well in his debut and Patrick Queen looked to be everything the Steelers wanted when they signed him to a new deal. Elandon Roberts is as steady as ever. A solid day for these guys.

Secondary: A+

Aside from one Beanie Bishop miscue on the Kyle Pitts touchdown, the secondary earned its keep. Pitts and Drake London were neutralized. At times, Bijan Robinson hurt the team underneath because he was the only option, but he never took over the game. None of those three talented weapons took over the game. That is what the Steelers needed. Porter held down the fort against London. Donte Jackson and DeShon Elliott each nabbed an interception. Minkah Fitzpatrick continued to prove why he was one of the best safeties in football.