Feats of Strength/Airing of Grievances: Diontae Johnson's return, T.J. Watt's splash key Steelers' 2nd-half surge in L.A.

As we pointed out here at “Breakfast With Benz” coming out of the bye, this is the time of year when the Steelers tend to turn up their momentum.

Even during this stretch of six years without a playoff victory, since 2017 the franchise is 31-10-1 between Week 5 and the end of November.

If they are going to continue that success and contend for a playoff spot, 50-50 games like the one they had in Los Angeles on Sunday against the Rams are ones they have to win.

Not only was it a 50-50 game going in, with L.A. at 3-3 and the Steelers at 3-2, but it was a 50-50 game once the ball was kicked.

The first 50% was garbage from Pittsburgh’s perspective. Throughout the first half, it looked like the Steelers had done nothing to better themselves during the bye. The other 50% after halftime, the Steelers looked like the team that had fans so excited during the preseason.

Luckily, the second-half effort was good enough to squeak out a 24-17 win. A few missed kicks by the Rams, a couple of fortunate calls and a quirk in the rulebook all went in Pittsburgh’s favor as well.

But given the struggle it’s been to stay above .500 this year, the Steelers surely will take it. Here are this week’s “Feats of Strength” and “Airing of Grievances.”

Feats of strength

Diontae makes a difference: After a four-game absence, Diontae Johnson influenced the game in his return. He had 79 yards on five receptions and six targets. His 39-yard catch and run in the fourth quarter to help set up a Jaylen Warren touchdown was huge.

39 yards and a trip to the red zone for Diontae Johnson ‼️

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— NFL (@NFL) October 22, 2023

Not only did Johnson’s presence impact the stat sheet, but it also varied the passing attack to the point that the Rams couldn’t focus exclusively on taking away George Pickens. For his part, Pickens ended up with 107 yards on five catches.

“They couldn’t lock in on (Pickens). They had to play straight up, and it was evident,” coach Mike Tomlin said after the win.

However, Johnson’s post-whistle taunt of former teammate Ahkello Witherspoon erased a pass interference call that would’ve iced the game. Fortunately, the Steelers were able to get 9 yards back on the next throw, and Kenny Pickett’s controversial QB sneak to get the eventual first down was enough to overcome the mistake.

Second-half surge: Another wretched first half offensively (see below) was overcome by one of the best 30 minutes of football the Steelers have had all season.

Whether you like it or not, credit offensive coordinator Matt Canada for drawing up route combinations that put Pickens and Johnson in a position to run themselves into open spots, and Pickett for standing in the pocket and delivering in rhythm and with accuracy more than he did all season.

The Steelers had 300 total yards after having just 90 in the first half. This was the first time the Steelers had three offensive touchdowns in a game all year, and they all came in the second half.

Most importantly, they were good in the red zone, scoring all three times they were there. Pickett, Warren and Najee Harris all scored on the ground. They had just seven red-zone trips and no rushing touchdowns as a team coming into this game.

Doubling on Donald: The Steelers did a good job of locating Aaron Donald wherever he lined up along the defensive line and limiting his impact.

Donald had four tackles and two quarterback hits but no sacks. Pickett held his ground on a few threatening pass rushes from Donald and delivering the ball. Whether it was complete or not, he didn’t run himself into sacks with Donald flushing him.

“They did a great job,” Pickett said of his offensive line. “We had a goal of not letting him wreck the game, doing everything we can — sliding guys and doubling him, getting four hands on him as often as possible, if not all the time.”

Related:

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• Steelers vs. Rams: What they're saying in Los Angeles after loss

Rams linebacker Michael Hoecht might have benefited from the attention on Donald with two sacks. And the pass pressure collectively from the Rams was problematic in the first half. But that dissipated in the second half, and those were the only two sacks of the game.

T.J.’s play of the day: Sacks. Forced fumbles. Fumble recoveries. T.J. Watt has been making game-altering plays all year.

And now an interception.

TJ Watt INT!

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— NFL (@NFL) October 22, 2023

Watt’s pick happened on the Rams’ first offensive possession of the second half. The Steelers cashed in with a touchdown sneak by Pickett three snaps later to make the score 10-9 in their favor.

Largely, the Rams contained Watt. He had just one tackle and no sacks. But that interception flipped the game.

“Eyes on the quarterback. Able to see him. Kinda worked his way back to my side of the field. I was just able to jump in front and make a play on the ball,” Watt said of the play after the game.

That was Watt’s first interception of the year and the seventh of his career.

Airing of grievances

Dynamic duo: Anyone who paid attention to this matchup this week knew the Steelers were going to have trouble with the Rams wide receivers, especially former All-Pro Cooper Kupp.

But largely it wasn’t Kupp who killed the Steelers — in part because he had two drops. It was the tandem of Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell who did the damage. Those two kept the Rams afloat in the passing game while Kupp was out the first month of the season because of a hamstring injury.

Atwell had a 31-yard touchdown at the end of the first half.

Stafford throws it up and Tutu Atwell has a TD before the half!

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— NFL (@NFL) October 22, 2023

Nacua ended the game with eight receptions for 154 yards, including a number of nifty catches and extended runs after the catch.

WHAT A PLAY BY PUKA NACUA

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— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 22, 2023

At one point, he was outgaining the entire Steelers offense 146-108. As for Kupp, he had just two catches for 29 yards.

S.O.S.: Same old start. As usual, the Steelers were bad on offense to open the game.

The Steelers’ first offensive drive was a three-and-out that featured a sack of Pickett. The second drive resulted in a punt after six snaps and featured a penalty against Connor Heyward. The third drive netted a field goal, after a drive stalled out after Johnson had a reception into the red zone called back thanks to a crackback block by Pickens that drew a flag.

The final two drives before halftime resulted in punts as well. The team was 0 for 5 on third downs and totaled just 90 first-half yards. In the first half of each of the last three games, the Steelers have totaled six points.

Check the calendar: The internet informed me that it was #NationalTightEndsDay. Someone should’ve told the Steelers.

Heyward, Darnell Washington and Rodney Williams combined for two catches (both by Heyward) and 23 yards on three targets.

I get it. Pat Freiermuth was unavailable. But you can’t ignore the position entirely, either in game-planning or on game day. The Rams came in allowing 9.2 yards per target to opposing tight ends — 31st in the NFL.

Heading into the weekend, Freiermuth’s .6 yards per route run was the sixth lowest among all NFL pass catchers who have run at least 75 routes. Washington began the game with 56 routes run but had been targeted just three times.