The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t even gotten out of the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens and the Steelers offense already has some questionable calls and head scratchers.
First up was the decision by quarterback Russell Wilson to take a shot deep on third and short that ended up bouncing off the shoulder of wide receiver Calvin Austin III. The issue with this play is twofold. First, if you are going to take a shot downfield on third down, you have to take that shot to your best guy. That means George Pickens and not Austin.
Bigger still is that if you are going to take a low-percentage shot like that, you’d better do it knowing you will go for it on fourth down if you don’t get it.
Then, later in the quarter, the Steelers had another third and short and instead of throwing deep, Pittsburgh went with a more traditional quarterback sneak. But the offense completely teleghraphed the call, Wilson messed up the push as the snap and running back Jaylen Warren just stood in the backfield and offered zero push. The offense then came back and went for it on fourth down with an even more telegraphed run that ultimately failed.
Thankfully, two missed field goals by Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker and one made field goal by Chris Boswell and the Steelers hold a slim 3-0 lead.
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