Five positives and negatives for Washington Football Team vs. Steelers

Positive 4

Let’s talk about that defensive line for a bit.  One word could suffice here.  Wow!

Pittsburgh is playing at home.  They are 11-0.  They have first down inside the one-yard line.  The Washington defensive line stops them cold on first down.  The Steelers are stuffed on second down.  Same result on third down.  Fourth down and Washington stops them again!  That is a unit determined to win and make the playoffs.

Four of Washington’s pass deflections came from behind the line of scrimmage.  Pittsburgh gained 21 yards rushing on 14 carries.  Yes, Pittsburgh’s famed quarterback was not sacked, but he did feel the pressure often from Washington’s front four.  The defensive line was a forceful positive on Monday.

Negative 4

With nine minutes remaining in the second quarter, Washington was facing a fourth down and a yard to go at their own 34-yard line.  Alex Smith lined up in the shotgun.  Logan Thomas went in motion and lined up behind the center.  Thomas hands off to J.D. McKissic for a three-yard loss.

If Washington is going for it there, a better play would’ve been Thomas running ahead behind the center and right guard.

Luckily, the defensive line produced what you just read in the fourth positive for the week.  This was a poor decision and Scott Turner called the wrong play.