Airing of Grievances: After an inspiring win against Tampa Bay, Steelers return to losing ways with a thud in Miami

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 16-10 loss in Miami was a prime example of what we’ve seen from them so far this year — even their good isn’t good enough.

The defense held the Dolphins to 16 points but dropped at least five interceptions and didn’t come up with any sacks.

The Steelers are now at 2-5; the Dolphins at 4-3.

Kenny Pickett led two long drives in the fourth quarter, resulting in 22 plays from scrimmage and 114 yards on the stat sheet. But no points because both of them ended up in interceptions.

So after a week of praising the Steelers for the “Feats of Strength” in an upset of Tampa Bay, it’s time for the “Airing of Grievances” after a frustrating defeat in Miami.

Terrible tipping point

The Steelers essentially lost the game on a third-down sequence in the fourth quarter.

It was third-and-1 from the Dolphins’ 15-yard line, down 16-10 with just over three minutes left. Kenny Pickett picked up the yard on a quarterback sneak. But the first down was wiped out on an illegal shift penalty.

So, when the ball was snapped again on third-and-6 after the five-yard penalty, Dan Moore got busted for a hold. That resulted in a third-and-16. And then Pickett threw his second of three interceptions on the night.

WINTER IS COMING. @HollywoodVon with the INT! ⛄️

????: Watch #MIAvsPIT on @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/w6ly5RhkF6

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) October 24, 2022

Pickett would throw the third interception just in front of the goal line on the game’s final offensive drive.

Familiar feel

The Steelers got into their habit of throwing the ball short of the sticks on third down again.

The Steelers came up empty on 10 of 14 third-down conversions. The most maddening example of failing to attack the line to gain was on the Steelers’ second possession of the second half.

They had a second down with four yards to go, and Pickett completed a one-yard pass to Najee Harris. On the ensuing third-and-3, Pickett completed a pass of just two yards to Harris.

Design more plays to get receivers beyond the chains. And the quarterbacks need to get out of just taking the checkdown because it’s there on third down. At some point, they have to give the receivers a chance to make plays on combat catches if the coverage is decent.

Even Pickett’s interception on that third-and-16 in the fourth quarter was only going to hit the targeted receiver for a 14- or 15-yard gain, forcing them into what would’ve been a fourth-down conversion attempt.

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Failed first quarter

For as bad as the Steelers’ first quarter was in Buffalo two weeks ago, Sunday night’s start in Miami was even worse.

The Dolphins went nine plays for 71 yards in four minutes, 15 seconds on the game’s opening drive. Running back Raheem Mostert capped it off with a touchdown.

.@Tua scrambles and finds @RMos_8Ball for 6!

Perfect opening drive for the @MiamiDolphins.

????: #PITvsMIA on NBC
????: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/vDQGJ9SfCd pic.twitter.com/KO46xWblMB

— NFL (@NFL) October 24, 2022

The Steelers responded with a three-and-out. When the Dolphins got the ball back, they went 59 yards in eight plays to kick a field goal.

The Steelers responded with a two-and-out, as Kenny Pickett threw an interception intended for Chase Claypool, but the receiver was pushed/tripped/fell down.

.@Jbet26 comes up with the INT! #FinsUp

????: #PITvsMIA on NBC
????: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/vDQGJ9SfCd pic.twitter.com/qEJRaCByxb

— NFL (@NFL) October 24, 2022

Miami turned that into a field goal as well and took a 13-0 lead into the second quarter. The Steelers only managed 2:07 of possession time before the team found itself down 13 points. Meanwhile, in a game they’d eventually lose 38-3, the Steelers were only down 10-3 after one quarter in Buffalo.

More of the same

Things did not get much better to start the second half.

Down 16-10 at halftime, the Steelers got the opening kickoff of the third quarter and promptly went three-and-out.

Najee Harris started with a one-yard loss. Pickett got sacked and lost 11 yards. Then they dumped it down to Jaylen Warren to get 10 yards back on third-and-22.

It’s amazing how little the Steelers get done when they should have extra time to plan.

All together, now …

The Steelers defense had at least five chances for interceptions. Two were blatant drops. Cameron Sutton had an opportunity in the second quarter. In the third quarter, Terrell Edmunds dropped a pass from Tagovailoa that hit him right in the numbers.

Minkah Fitzpatrick and Levi Wallace both had a chance at some spinning, batted balls they couldn’t secure. And Wallace dropped one that hit his hands in the fourth quarter.

“When the game is a defensive battle like that game developed into, it’s about who catches their interception opportunities and who doesn’t,” head coach Mike Tomlin said. “The Dolphins caught theirs. We didn’t catch ours.”

Say it with me, “If they had better hands, they would’ve been wide receivers.” It’s as if Ike Taylor came out of retirement and cloned himself four times. They were in the right place, a bunch of times, and just couldn’t catch the ball.

Arthur Maulet also had a ball floated right over his head on a 21-yard catch by Tyreek Hill late in the second quarter en route to a Miami field goal.

Coming up dry

For as nice of a job as the defense did by shutting out the Dolphins in the second half, those dropped interceptions weren’t the only problem.

Throughout the course of the game, the Steelers failed to sack Tagovailoa. He had 35 pass attempts. He was hit once. The Steelers had no sacks two weeks ago in Buffalo. They had two against Tampa last week and none again this week.

Without T.J. Watt, this pass rush is feckless. For a quarterback coming off a concussion, they did little to make Tagovailoa feel uncomfortable and speed up his thought process.

I understand that he was getting rid of the ball quickly. I get that the Steelers were dropping seven a lot to maximize coverage on Miami’s talented wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. But mix in an effctive blitz here and there. And when you do, get home.

That’s OK, though. I’m sure everything will get better against the unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles next week.