Pittsburgh Steelers: Studs and duds from Week 1 vs. Giants
Stud: Defense
New York Giants’ running back Saquon Barkley is one of the best players in the league at his position. But he and his team were simply overwhelmed by the Steelers’ front seven all evening.
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Yes, the Pittsburgh secondary was burned for a couple of scores by Giants’ wideout Darius Slayton. But Keith Butler’s unit corralled Barkley to the tune of six yards on 15 carries. New York ran for a total of 29 yards and all but seven of that came from second-year quarterback Daniel Jones.
The Steelers totaled three sacks and intercepted Jones twice, once by outside linebacker T.J. Watt and the other a huge play by defensive end Cameron Heyward in the end zone off a deflection.
Dud: Special teams
Second-year pro Diontae Johnson had an impressive rookie season, not only as a pass-catcher but as a punt returner as well. But he muffed his first attempt of the year. Usually-reliable kicker Chris Boswell missed the extra point on Pittsburgh’s first touchdown of the season. A year ago, he connected on all 28 of his PATs.
Pittsburgh’s punt coverage units were so-so, giving up a 20-yard punt return to Jabrill Peppers in the first half. After the team took a 19-10 lead in the final quarter, Boswell followed up a 36-yard field goal by booting the ball out of bounds on the ensuing kickoff and giving the Giants the ball on their own 40-yard line.