Another slow start for offense at home
Just call it the road-field advantage. Or the homefield disadvantage. Whatever is going on for the Steelers at Heinz Field it’s not a trend they want to continue next week when the Atlanta Falcons visit.
The Steelers were plagued by a slow start again Sunday night at home. With the Baltimore Ravens outscoring the Steelers, 14-0, in the first quarter, their past three opponents have outscored them, 56-0, in the first 15 minutes.
The Jacksonville Jaguars outscored the Steelers, 14-0, in the playoff game in January, and the Kansas City Chiefs outscored them, 21-0, two weeks ago.
The Ravens marched down the field and scored on their first drive of the game. John Brown caught a 33yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco. On the Steelers’ first drive, Vance McDonald fumbled at the Steelers 31. Four plays later, Alex Collins caught another touchdown pass to make it 14-0.
Turnovers and poor special-teams plays have contributed to the slow starts in each of the past three games. The offense was good enough to come back to tie the score before halftime against the Chiefs and Ravens.
Burns gets the start
Cornerback Artie Burns, who was benched last week against Tampa Bay, started against the Ravens. Coach Mike Tomlin stayed true to his word and had veteran corner Coty Sensabaugh rotate in during the game.
Injuries
Backup receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey injured his ankle in the second quarter and did not return. He was pulled down by a Ravens player when he was rushing on a punt block. The Ravens were called for a penalty on the play.
Safety Nat Berhe exited the game in the third quarter with a pectoral injury and did not return.
Boswell rebounds
After missing three of his first four field-goals attempts to start the season, Chris Boswell booted field goals from 34 and 39 yards for the first six points of the game for the Steelers.
Burnett, Hilton out
The Steelers were without two starting defensive backs Sunday night. Strong safety Morgan Burnett missed the game with a groin injury and slot corner Mike Hilton missed because of an elbow injury.
Rookie Terrell Edmunds started at strong safety and second-year corner Cameron Sutton played for Hilton in the slot.
The Steelers also deactivated receiver Justin Hunter, quarterback Mason Rudolph, safety Marcus Allen, offensive lineman Zach Banner and defensive lineman L.T. Walton.
The Ravens deactivated quarterback Robert Griffin III, receiver Jordan Lasley, cornerback Anthony Averett, center Hroniss Grasu, defensive tackle Willie Henry, tight end Hayden Hurst and defensive tackle Zach Seiler.
Faneca impressed
Former Steelers offensive lineman Alan Faneca appreciated what took place in Tampa Bay last week when B.J. Finney and Matt Feiler filled in for injured starters David DeCastro and Marcus Gilbert. It’s not easy switching offensive linemen in and out of the lineup. Faneca knows this better than most.
Fifteen years ago, the Steelers were so decimated by injuries along the offensive line that line coach Russ Grimm had Faneca, an AllPro guard, switch back and forth between his position and left tackle during a game in Denver.
“We were sending in offensive linemen like they were receivers and running backs with the play,” said Faneca, who was at the game Sunday night to be inducted into the 2018 Steelers Hall of Honor. “We didn’t win that game. But I went around and gave everyone a big hug. It was a tough loss, but I was just proud of the guys to pull that off. It takes a lot of focus. Everything about O-line is repetitive in nature and doing the same thing. One time you’re at center, at guard and tackle. That takes a lot of focus to pull off, and we were able to do that.”
The Steelers lost that game in Denver, 17-14. The Steelers won in Tampa and the offense didn’t miss a beat with Finney and Feiler in the lineup.
Faneca credited Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak with a big assist for pulling that off.
“When you get guys like that in and out that takes good coaching to get them coached up and ready to play,” Faneca said. “It takes a good scheme. You have to know those guys’ strengths and weaknesses. There is a reason they’re not starting. You have to protect them. And you have to know what they do well, and you have to institute that in the game plan whether you like it or not. You have to be able to assess that. That’s what Munch is able to do. He’s able to see that, use it.”
Gilbert and DeCastro returned to the starting lineup against the Ravens.
The Steelers also honored Rocky Bleier, Bill Nunn, Art Rooney Jr. and Buddy Dial.