Steelers vs Broncos: Instant Grades and Analysis for Pittsburghs' Week 1 Game

 FINAL: Steelers lose 31-19 to the Denver Broncos

The Steelers fall to 0-1 on the season after a disappointing loss to the Denver Broncos. The entire team needs to improve if they want this season to be a sucess because at this point they looked pretty bad. The offense looked exactly the same as last year and the defense is far from the number one ranking they held a year ago.

Ben Roethlisberger: C

Overall Game Grade: C

The 4^th quarter interception was a hugely disappointing end to an otherwise solid night for Ben Roethlisberger. He wasn’t perfect however, he was the only reason that the Steelers were even in this game. Ben was under constant pressure and extended plays the entire game and that one terrible throw completely downgrades his performance.

Quarter 4: D

Ben has been under pressure almost every time he goes back to pass and he threw another ball that was almost intercepted by Tracy Porter. On the play Mike Wallace was wide open on a broken coverage but Ben just didn’t have any time to find him. Ben then ensued to throw his worst pass of the night directly to Tracy Porter again. Porter then ran it back for a touchdown and put a nail in the Steelers coffin on the night.

Quarter 3: A-

Ben has been under constant pressure in the 2^nd half with both Marcus Gilbert and Ramon Foster out of the game on the offensive line and he did everything he could to get the Steelers even in field goal range to start the quarter. Since missing some throws at the beginning of the 2^nd quarter, Ben has looked sharp and has been extending plays like he always does. Late in the quarter Ben got a little sloppy and was almost picked off on consecutive plays but he still drove the offense down for a shot at a touchdown.

Quarter 2: B

Ben had 2 terrible passes in the redzone early in the 2nd quarter to force the Steelers to settle for a short field goal. A good drive and touchdown pass to Heath Miller at the end of the quarter redeemed himself a bit to get me to give him a B for the quarter.

Quarter 1: B-

 Ben was perfect in the quarter for 25 yards however, he did get sacked pretty easily on one play. Ben wasn't spectacular but he wasn't bad either which is why he gets an average grade for the quarter.

Offense

Overall Game Grade: C

It really looked like the same Steelers offense that we had under Bruce Arians. Basically they just waste first and second down and hope Ben can do something to save the day on 3^rd down. With all the hype about a new offense and improved offensive line it was a big disappointment to watch. Marcus Gilbert and Ramon Foster getting hurt didn’t help however, injuries are nothing new and we can’t have the team just standing around waiting for Ben to do something.  

Quarter 4: C-

The offense continued to look terrible in the 4^th quarter and I’m pretty sure a 4 year old could’ve called a better game. Jonathan Dwyer continued to run hard in the quarter but the running game really did nothing like the entire game. The offense really went as far as Ben took them and for most of the night he did a solid job until he threw a pick 6 to end the game.

Quarter 3: B

Ben’s play brings this grade up a lot because the rest of the offense looks like it forgot the season started. Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman are running hard but it’s tough when they run the same draw play every single time. They have pretty much been wasting first and second down and then hope that Ben can save them on 3^rd down. It’s pretty bad when sitting on my couch I can call out every single play the Steelers ran in the redzone and a good effort by Dwyer is the only reason they actually got a good gain to the 2 yard line on a draw play.

Quarter 2: C+

The offense honestly looks like it hasn't changed at all with predictable play calling and seemingly always being in a 3rd and long. I don't know how many times the running backs are going to run into a wall on a draw play before they call something else as well. Just like in the past, Ben and the offense looked good in the no huddle but the regular offense needs to get a lot better.

Quarter 1: C

The offensive line has struggled to this point in the game and the running game has really gone nowhere. The offense has been pretty predictable, basically running on first and second down and setting up a long 3rd down.

Defense

Overall Game Grade: C

The Steelers defense started the game by sacking Peyton Manning a couple times and then never seemed to get close again. It seemed like the defense just never decided to come out of the locker room after halftime. They did hold the Broncos to a field goal late in the game to give the offense a chance however, they are the reason the team was in the position in the first place.

Quarter 4: D

After starting the game getting good pressure on Peyton Manning, the Steelers defense couldn’t stop anything in the 4^th quarter. Peyton Manning had anything he wanted in the 4^th quarter and every running back the Broncos put in the game was getting good yardage. It was another poor late performance by the Steelers defense.

Quarter 3: F

The defense was only on the field for 2 plays and after the offense allowed them to wait for about an hour on the sideline, they decided not to touch Demaryius Thomas for a 71 yard touchdown.

Quarter 2: B

The defense wasn't as stout in the 2nd quarter and gave up a touchdown drive ended with a 7 yard TD to Knowshon Moreno. 3rd down has been a bit of a problem for the defense throughout the game but they did hold the Denver offense to just 7 points in the half.

Quarter 1: B+

 The defense has actually been doing very well and the only reason they don't get an A is because they have given up a couple long 3rd down conversions. They have been getting some good pressure on Peyton Manning with 2 sacks already.

Special Teams

Overall Game Grade: B+

Shaun Suisham hit both of his field goal attempts and he didn’t have a kickoff returned. Other than that one great punt by Drew Butler, the rest of the Special Teams had a quiet night.

Quarter 4: B

The Special Teams were pretty much nonexistent in the 4^th quarter so I just gave them an average grade for the quarter.

Quarter 3: A

I will keep giving the Special Teams good grades until they give me a reason not to and Suisham hit his only field goal attempt in the quarter.

Quarter 2: B

 I give the special teams a B simply because they did nothing wrong in the quarter. Shaun Suisham made his short field goal and he had 2 touchbacks.

Quarter 1: A

The special teams was pretty quiet and I give the unit an A because of the great punt by Drew Butler that was downed inside the one yard line by the Steelers. The only other good was a decent punt return by Antonio Brown.

Coaching

Overall Game Grade: C-

Dick LeBeau looked like a genus in the first half and then like in past years, he failed to make adjustments in the second half. Todd Haley might as well not showed up for this game as his play calling and gameplan were garbage the entire game. Even Mike Tomlin looked stupid by fighting for a review on a play that was clearly not going to go the Steelers way.

Quarter 4: D

The play calling never got any better in the fourth quarter on offense as it looked like Todd Haley was content with just letting Ben try and save the team. Dick LeBeau I guess decided to stop coaching the defense as well and it looked Peyton Manning was in a 7 on 7 drill.

Quarter 3: C

Dick LeBeau gets an B and Todd Haley gets an F to this point in my book for being basically Bruce Arians 2.0. The offense has been as predictable as it gets and honestly looks a little worse to me than last year if not for Ben’s good play in the 2^nd half.

Quarter 2: C

Todd Haley did his best Bruce Arians impression and the Steelers offense stalled again in the redzone. There is no reason to throw the ball 3 times inside the 5 yard line and not even attempt to run. A second trip inside the 5 and still not even a rush attempt although this time Ben didn't miss Heath Miller in the endzone. Haley's play calling has to get a lot better in the 2nd half.

Quarter 1: B

 This would be an A if not for the play calling of Todd Haley to this point in the game. I know he is trying to establish the run game but right now it is not working and putting the offense in bad situations.