5 things we learned in Steelers' win vs. Giants: Offense breaks out with switch to Russell Wilson

Five things we learned from Steelers 26, Giants 18:

1. 400 reasons

From the start of the 2021 season through the game two weeks ago in Las Vegas, the Steelers had gone through six starting quarterbacks and three play callers over 3½ seasons. And, in the 57 games in that time, they had surpassed 400 yards of offense just three times.

They’ve now done it twice in just two starts by Russell Wilson.

A week after putting up 409 yards in a 37-15 win against the New York Jets, the Steelers on Monday night tallied 426 yards in beating New York City’s other team. The effort against the Giants in Wilson’s second start with the team accounted for the second-most yards in a Steelers victory since November 2018. Only a Mason Rudolph-led 468-yard effort in a New Year’s Eve win at the Seattle Seahawks last season was more productive.

The Steelers have 63 points in two games with Wilson starting. Only once since early in the 2020 season had the Steelers accumulated that many points over a two-game span: 64 points when Rudolph was QB in Weeks 15-16 last season.

2. No slow start here

The Steelers have been plagued by slow starts offensively and have been far more productive in the second halves of games.

Monday, the point production in the first half still lagged. But don’t let the mere nine points in the box score fool you — the Steelers were moving the ball before halftime.

The Steelers had 238 yards in the first half — for basis of comparison, consider they totaled 226 yards for the entire game three weeks ago against Dallas.

Fourteen of the Steelers’ 37 offensive snaps in the first half gained 10 or more yards. That’s their most in any half since a Sept. 16, 2018 game against Kansas City when they also had 14.

3. 6-and-too much optimism

Thanks to a 6-2 start, the Steelers are situated to make a push for the playoffs and even win the AFC North title. Although the odds are certainly in their favor, they are not banking on it.

Since 1990, 82.5% (127 of 154) of the teams that opened the season 6-2 have reached the playoffs, and 54.5% (84 of 154) have won their division. Over the past five seasons, 33 of the 43 teams (76.7%) that led their division after Week 8 have made the playoffs.

“We have great confidence,” Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson said. “We haven’t done anything yet. We’re obviously sitting here at 6-2, which is a great thing, but it doesn’t mean anything. … There’s a lot of great games ahead of us. We’re not going to shy away from ‘em.”

Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith is well aware that, while the Steelers are atop the AFC North, they have yet to face a divisional opponent. They will play a string of them starting Nov. 17 against Baltimore, followed by games at Cleveland and Cincinnati before hosting the Browns. The Steelers also have to play at the Philadelphia Eagles and the Ravens before hosting the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day. Then they will host the Bengals in the season finale in Week 18.

“It is good to have a fast start to the season,” Highsmith said. “We know the schedule we’ve got the back half of the season, so we’ve just got to continue to get better every single day, not get content, not get complacent. The AFC North is waiting on us, some other tough games, as well. Just got to continue to get better and fine-tune details every day.”

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4. Rush to success

Najee Harris rushed for a season-high 114 yards, his third consecutive 100-yard game as the Steelers rushed for 167 yards against the Giants.

Coach Mike Tomlin and Wilson gave some of the credit for the success of the ground game to center Ryan McCollum, who moved into the starting lineup when starter Nate Herbig and rookie Zach Frazier were lost to injuries.

“It was really impressive again, considering some of the circumstances,” Tomlin said. “Can’t say enough about guys like Ryan McCollum, who are getting an opportunity to step up and put their hand in the pile, carve out space for themselves in this thing. We talk too much about guys we don’t have in this business. There’s always other deserving men on the other end of that conversation who are getting an opportunity. Ryan McCollum is one of those guys: A major component of why we were successful in terms of running the football.”

Wilson credited McCollum, who hadn’t played in an NFL regular-season game since 2021, for providing leadership on the offensive line despite his relative inexperience.

“I’m really proud just Ryan stepping in and playing center over the past couple weeks,” Wilson said. “That’s a big deal to be able to have guys be able to step in, be as confident as he’s been, to be the leader, a great sounding voice for the O-line. Just proud of the guys being connected as one. When you’ve got guys like that (who) are tough, got grit to them, knowledge of the game, work at it every day, love it, love each other, anything is possible.”

5. Switching sides

Sack 17: Alex Highsmith ???? https://t.co/LokZ5ztEMy pic.twitter.com/7ThlGkos4J

— Mr Unlimmmited (@chris_ferland) October 29, 2024

No, your television wasn’t broadcasting in inverse images, and you weren’t looking in a mirror. That really was T.J. Watt lined up across from the opposing left tackle at some points against the Giants.

In 34 games over the past three seasons headed into Monday, Watt (according to Pro Football Focus) had taken just nine snaps while lined up on the right side of the defense. Watt, who long ago became an exclusive pass rusher from the left side, had taken just one snap from the right side over the first seven games of this season and hadn’t played more than three in any game since early in the 2021 season.

That’s what made it look so different when Watt and Highsmith switched sides for a third-and-19 New York play on the first possession of the second half. Watt had just gotten his first sack of the game the play prior. And, on the next snap, Daniel Jones also was tackled by a rusher from his right side — but this time it was Highsmith.