Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters via Imagn Images
The Pittsburgh Steelers did their best to let the Minnesota Vikings back in the game, but they ended up prevailing in the first-ever game in Ireland. A 24-6 lead was shortened to a 24-21 win thanks in part to some more than questionable decisions from coach Tomlin, and an offense that took its foot off the gas.
But the defense wasn’t blameless; if not for a Payton Wilson shoestring tackle, Pittsburgh likely sees Jordan Addison score, and the game is flipped on its head. But that should have never happened. It was due to a blown coverage in the secondary, yet again. DeShon Elliott has had enough of that…
“We can’t have busted plays like that at the end. We had ’em, what, 14-6 at halftime? They could be about 15 points in the second half,” said Elliott after the game via transcription from SD. “That’s not Steeler football. All we can do is get better, communicate better, but we’ll be alright. I think we’re going in the right direction. We just gotta keep stacking those days.”
Steelers’ defensive communication has to improve
The team was reeling in the secondary at that point of the game. Obviously Joey Porter Jr. was out, Darius Slay had been dealing with an injury, Brandin Echols was pulled and Jalen Ramsey was beat up. That likely contributed to the blown coverage.
You can see via the next-gen chart that no one covers the entire half of the field on this play. It took Payton Wilson getting on his horse and tracking the WR down to make a tackle that cost the Vikings over a minute, thwarting their comeback.
It’s ironic because it was Payton Wilson who had a blown coverage of his own last week against the New England Patriots. But the point from Elliott stands. The five sacks and two turnovers is great, but it doesn’t matter if you make mental mistakes.
The good news is, having veteran players like Elliott back should help limit those errors.
“When my knee got hurt, I thought I was out for the season. So being able to come back and play with my guys, knowing that my energy is contagious, knowing that my aggressions are contagious,” Elliott told Brooke Pryor of ESPN regarding his interception after the game.
So it was a good win for the Steelers, and there is a lot to be happy about headed into the bye. But the defensive communication has to become better going forward.
