The Takeaways, Week 10: Steelers at Washington
November 11, 2024
by Steve Thomas
This game went about as I thought it would, with the Steelers squeaking out a win at Northwest Field by a score of 28 – 27. Washington fought hard and played like a team that is in the mix of the NFL’s better teams, but the idea of successfully facing down the 2024 Steelers proved to be a bit too much. Even in a loss, though, Washington was in the game until the bitter end and played a first place team like they belonged on the field with them, and in spite of the loss, that’s major progress compared to what we’ve all been subject to for the better part of 30 years. Also, an honest look at this part of the team’s schedule shows that it’s much tougher than previous weeks. Keep the faith, folks. At the end of the day, this was an exciting game that Washington came within a hair of winning. It’s the consolation prize, but it’s something.
Mistakes cost Washington the win
The truth of the matter is that Washington could have won this game. Russell Wilson didn’t play particularly well, and Washington’s defense held the Steelers’ running game to a combined 3.3 yards per carry. However, things like two muffed punt receptions by Olamide Zaccheaus, multiple dropped passes, and penalties at inopportune times were really the deciding factor in this game. Pitt
Terry McLaurin deserves to be a Pro Bowler this year
McLaurin had 5 receptions for 113 yards in this game, including two touchdowns and his 54 yard reception in the third quarter that featured a significant amount of yards after catch. Heading in week 10, McLaurin had a total of 598 receiving yards, which was 7th in the NFL and 4th in the NFC. For those keeping track, this is the fourth game this season in which he’s exceeded 100 receiving yards. Add in his 6 prior touchdowns and, in my view, you have the makings of a Pro Bowl receiver, particularly since Washington is actually a good, high-profile team this year. McLaurin and Daniels have clearly developed a solid on-field relationship, and that’s resulted in one of the most productive seasons of McLaurin’s career.
Jeremy Chinn was Washington’s most valuable defender, again
In this game, Chinn had 13 tackles, including 6 solo, and was credited with 1 pass defense, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Chinn brought consistent pressure off the edge and was generally in the middle of multiple stops of the Steelers’ offense. Chinn had a similar game last week as well. He’s quickly becoming one of Washington’s best free agent signings this season, and is another guy who I’d recommend for a Pro Bowl vote.
Jayden Daniels comes back down to earth
Daniels has obviously been tremendous so far this year – everything Washington could have expected from a second overall draft pick – but let’s be honest and admit that this wasn’t his best game, either statistically or just from the perspective of subjective observations. In this contest, Daniels completed 17 passes in 34 attempts, which is a 50% completion percentage, for just 202 yards, and no touchdowns or interceptions, for a 68.5 quarterback rating. That’s his lowest quarterback rating of the year – his previous low was 79.2 against the Panthers in week 7. I take from the fact that the team was still wrapping his midsection on the bench, as they did last week, that his rib injury still bothers him, so that could have something to do with his accuracy issues. He was also the victim of multiple key drops by his wide receivers that hurt his completion percentage. Regardless, though, we’ve seen much better of Daniels plenty of times this season. He was always going to come back down to earth somewhat from the crazy stats he posted earlier in the season. Plus, the Steelers have a very high-quality defense. There’s no reason to worry, folks.
Sorry, but Zach Ertz was short
I’m not on social media anymore, but I assume that many fans complained about the call by the officials on the spot of Zach Ertz’s reception on 4th down on Washington’s final drive of the game. I’m sorry to tell everybody, but it appeared to me that the officials made the right call, at least in terms of the first down. Ertz was in fact short, albeit by only a very small distance. Certainly, under any circumstances, there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn the call on the field. I’d suggest that Ertz needs to play better attention to where he is on the field.
That’s it for this week – I’ll be back for another edition after Washington’s battle against the now first place Eagles up in the City of Hate on Thursday night.