The Pittsburgh Steelers are actually 10-3, going 3-1 within the final 4 all-important AFC North video games, and eliminating the Cleveland Browns from the playoffs most not too long ago after dropping the primary matchup. Whereas not good, there’s a lot to love concerning the 27-14 victory, together with the passing sport stepping up in WR1 George Pickens’ absence.
A few notes earlier than we soar in. Due to Thomas Mock for his nice work, which helped me be taught a lot about what I’m utilizing within the visible collection. Spikes and clear throwaways are eliminated resulting from being the right situational resolution and bats on the line of scrimmage. 4 throwaways and a bat have been eliminated.
Wilson went 15-of-26 on the stat sheet (57.7 %) however had 4 throwaways resulting from stress for a 75.0 adjusted completion fee. That’s a telling distinction that the baseline stats lack. The offense began tough, together with 0-for-5 on third down, together with 4 three-and-outs. 158 passing yards (400-plus Week 13), and a few accuracy points (notably early) atop my record. In typical style, they improved by way of the sport.
Different positives included two touchdowns, purple zone enhancements, no interceptions, and only one sack, which was spectacular in duress typically. Rolling, extending, and even read-option retaining. It isn’t required typically, however 4 explosive go performs, together with two fairly moon balls and two over the center to TE Pat Freiermuth, refreshingly. They did miss on a few go balls, focusing on gamers that lack that skillset, particularly in comparison with Pickens.
Total, although, placing up that many factors, though it clearly wasn’t the offense’s finest day, is encouraging. Hopefully, it can pattern that approach with a sizzling 11-2 Eagles workforce (nine-game profitable streak) up subsequent.
Let’s begin with a easy view of the 21 charted passes, with the variety of throws at every go distance for Week 14:
#1. Behind-the-Line: 33.3-percent. Seven passes. The primary charted go was a 2nd and a couple of. Wilson’s play-action rolls proper, having to sidearm previous the push and get previous TE MyCole Pruitt, who chip launched to the flat. Needed to backtrack for the catch, and tackled fast for a lack of one.
On drive three, Cordarrelle Patterson went in movement and received the go 5 yards behind the road, additionally tackled shortly behind the road for a lack of two.
Went again to the space within the second quarter after early failures. This one was a purple zone display to Freiermuth, with Wilson getting it out regardless of stress and blocks in entrance for seven profitable yards.
The following drive was an unlucky 1st and 20 scenario, with RB Jaylen Warren getting this display goal, and having fun with good blocking. It was an ideal burst between two defenders for a pleasant YAC for an 11-yard achieve.
Third quarter now. Wilson pretend reverses to Warren then dumps it to him huge open with good YAC to the purple zone for 14 yards on 2nd and 6. Identical drive, Calvin Austin received the WR display with one good block, however three defenders corralled the four-yard achieve.
Blended outcomes.
T-2nd. 5-10 air-yards: 19.0-percent. 4 examples. On drive three, it’s 2nd and 12. Good pickup on an out path to WR Scotty Miller for eight yards. The following Third and 4 was a controversial intentional grounding name for the second three-and-out of the sport.
Third and 9, second quarter. Wilson takes the out path to Williams wanting the sticks at seven air yards, unable to get any YAC on a conservative drive preceded by screens, settling for a FG.
Subsequent drive, it’s one other Williams goal. This second and ten was 16 seconds until halftime, a cease route that was additionally at seven air yards, content material going to the locker room with a 13-7 lead and nonetheless in their very own territory.
A 3rd quarter 2nd was a 6 RPO. Good play pretend from Wilson, then beginning to scramble, sees WR Van Jefferson work upfield off of his cease path to the open space for the catch close to the aim line and 10-yard purple zone landing. It’s not the prettiest change, bobbling and stumbling in on the low go, but it surely’s an enormous connection to go up 20-7.
T-2nd. Explosive (20-plus air-yards): 19.0-percent. 4 extra. First drive, it’s Third and three. Wilson is compelled right into a scramble drill, with TE Darnell Washington permitting stress solo on star EDGE Myles Garrett. That’s the primary downside, adopted by a badly inaccurate throw crusing out of bounds to the wide-open Williams at 40 air yards. First three-and-out, ugh.
Early third quarter now, going through Third and 10. Wilson eludes the push once more (G Isaac Seumalo/T Broderick Jones), extending the play and throwing a dime to Freiermuth, who made an ideal contested catch at 21-air yards over the center for a 22-yard conversion. Candy play.
Later within the third quarter, it’s Third and 6. Lovely again shoulder go-ball to Williams, utilizing his palms properly (not referred to as for DPI like earlier within the sport), then plucking it one-handed and securing the catch for the slick conversion to the purple zone.
With 5:53 left within the sport, Third and seven up 13 factors, Wilson delivers an enormous go-ball regardless of a QB hit (T Dan Moore), nice job getting it precisely to Miller. He additionally made a wow catch, filling the void of Pickens’ absence with a formidable toe-tap drag simply inbounds. Thrilling play earlier than the unlucky Patterson fumble turnover, that would have arrange an even bigger lead.
Curiously, all 4 explosives air yard passes have been Third downs, changing on three Third-and-longs (six yards or extra). Encouraging flipside of early third down struggles.
T-4th. 0-5 air-yards: 14.3-percent. Three passes. Late first quarter, Wilson will get the short display to Miller on the line of scrimmage, wide-open with good YAC for 9 yards on 1st and 10.
Early second quarter, you guessed it, one other fast WR display. This one was terribly inaccurate, seemingly popping out of his hand incorrect, a very good three yards forward of Austin incomplete.
Pittsburgh is within the purple zone late within the third quarter. Wilson is ready to get it away regardless of one other quarterback hit (Jones), flipping it in the direction of Warren within the flat brief, doing properly simply to keep away from the sack on 1st and 10.
T-4th. 15-20 air-yards: 14.3-percent. Additionally three. Third and 1, finish of the primary quarter. Wilson decisively goes to Miller, however not as you would possibly anticipate. It’s a fade route, wildly exterior of him with no likelihood on the ball on the third three-and-out of the primary quarter. That’s your finest play with one yard to achieve?
Late third quarter received higher. Wilson appeared left the place the protection adopted his eyes, then labored again to Freiermuth who ran a seam up the center, and the laser throw will get between two defenders at 15 air yards and falls in on the 20-yard purple zone landing! 27-7 lead within the groups’ good third quarter.
Third and 5, early fourth quarter. Wilson’s in an empty set, and it’s one other failed fade thrown huge to the receiver out of bounds, this time to Austin. Accuracy/not on the identical web page, together with having higher suits on the roster to run these routes (Pickens and Williams particularly).
#6. 10-15 air-yards: 4.8-percent. Only one play, the encouraging and aforementioned Freiermuth TD.
Listed below are the dots of completions/incompletions for the sport:
Principally ten air yards or much less. The between-the-number reference to Freiermuth was nice, together with the explosive air yardage and the 15-air-yard TD. Go balls included much less air yardage, with Wilson having to eliminate the ball shortly. Three targets of 21 air yards and the longest 40 air-yard throw have been sadly inaccurate to Williams early.
Completion Charges By Distance:
WILSON:
Behind-the-line: 6/7 (85.7-percent).
0-5 air-yards: 1/3 (84.2-percent).
5-10 air-yards: 4/4 (100.0-percent).
10-15 air-yards: 1/1 (100-percent).
15-20 air-yards: 1/3 (33.3-percent).
Explosive: 3/4 (75.0-percent).
Nice charges general, with 15-20 yards being the exception.
Completion Charges By Location:
WILSON:
Outdoors left numbers: 7/12 (58.3-percent).
Left numbers-left hash: 1/1 (100-percent).
Inside hashes: 0/0 (N/A).
Proper hash-right numbers: 7/7 (100-percent).
Outdoors proper numbers: 0/1 (0-percent).
Excellent charges between the hash and numbers on each side of the sphere which has turn out to be a pleasant theme. Outdoors the numbers was used way more to the left, with combined outcomes, and didn’t goal the acute center of the sphere between the hashes.
Now for the warmth maps for charted passes, then completions solely:
Not probably the most inspiring charts when it comes to depth, however high quality over amount contemplating the lengthy 40-yard try was the principle drop-off on the completions-only chart.
Subsequent, right here’s Wilson and Fields’ 343 charted throws of the 2024 common season:
#1. 0-5 air yards: 39.7-percent. Beforehand 41.9-percent. 2023 35.0-percent.
#2. 5-10 air yards: 24.5-percent. Beforehand 24.8-percent. 2023 23.8-percent.
#3. Behind-the-line: 15.7-percent. Beforehand 14.6-percent. 2023 18.5-percent.
#4. Explosive: 15.2-percent. Beforehand 14.9-percent. 2023 12.4-percent.
#5. 10-15 air yards: 9.0-percent. Beforehand 9.3-percent. 2023 13.0-percent.
#6. 15-20 air yards: 7.0-percent. Beforehand 6.5-percent. 2023 10.8-percent.
Behind the road moved up a spot over explosives this week. Each upticked, the previous most considerably (1.1 %). The opposite improve was 15-20. 0-5 air yards was the largest downtick (2.2 %). 5-10 and 10-15 additionally decreased.
WILSON:
Behind-the-line: 30/34 (88.2-percent).
0-5 air-yards: 55/71 (77.5-percent).
5-10 air-yards: 27/42 (64.3-percent).
10-15 air-yards: 9/15 (60.0-percent).
15-20 air-yards: 9/15 (60.0-percent).
Explosive: 18/31 (58.1-percent).
FIELDS:
Behind-the-line: 15/20 (75.0-percent).
0-5 air-yards: 57/65 (87.7-percent).
5-10 air-yards: 30/42 (71.4-percent).
10-15 air-yards: 8/16 (50.0-percent).
15-20 air-yards: 5/9 (55.6-percent).
Explosive: 6/21 (28.6-percent).
Fields was stronger at 0-10 air yards, whereas behind the road and previous ten-yard charges have been higher with Wilson. Significantly explosives, together with his fee greater than doubling Fields’. Wow.
Completion Charges By Location:
WILSON:
Outdoors left numbers: 37/62 (59.7-percent).
Left numbers-left hash: 35/41 (85.4-percent).
Inside hashes: 8/12 (66.7-percent).
Proper hash-right numbers: 33/38 (86.8-percent).
Outdoors proper numbers: 28/39 (71.8-percent).
FIELDS:
Outdoors left numbers: 35/53 (66.0-percent).
Left numbers-left hash: 14/20 (70.0-percent).
Inside hashes: 11/13 (84.6-percent).
Proper hash-right numbers: 26/33 (78.8-percent).
Outdoors proper numbers: 20/31 (64.5-percent).
Wilson has stellar charges between the numbers and hashes, over 85 % on each side, whew. Outdoors the proper numbers has been higher than the extra frequent different facet, and between the hashes is by far the least focused and lowest completion fee. Evaluating to Fields can be fascinating.
To shut, listed here are the dots together with warmth maps for all charted makes an attempt and completions solely:
