Five positives and negatives for Washington Football Team vs. Steelers

Positive 5

Sharing our fifth positive this week is J.D. McKissic and Alex Smith.

Smith went 31-46 and 296 yards against the Steelers.  He also tossed the game-tying touchdown pass.  The former Utah star has completed 70.5 percent of his passes over the last five games and he has led this team to the brink of a division title.  Alex Smith is the likely comeback player of the year this season, but there is more work to do.

McKissic was on fire in the second half with 10 catches on 10 targets for 70 yards.  He continued to move the chains in the second half and kept several scoring drives alive with his timely plays.  McKissic filled in nicely for the injured Antonio Gibson and he is under contract for another year at a very reasonable cost.  Advantage, Washington.

Negative 5, Make it Positive 6

Here is a negative.  Once again, Washington didn’t score in the first quarter.  That’s it – that is your fifth negative.

And now for the bonus – a sixth positive for the second week in a row.  Jon Bostic and Cole Holcomb brought plenty of heat against the Steelers.  Pittsburgh’s ground game was grounded.  The tight ends were limited and all but taken out of the equation in the second half.  Bostic and Holcomb combined for 19 tackles.  Bostic intercepted the game-clinching pass and he also contributed a pass deflection.

Washington will need their linebackers to perform in the reaming games this season and Monday was a good start.  With their superb efforts against the Steelers, Jon Bostic and Cole Holcomb were solid positives.