Steelers Lone Week 1 Score Only Happened Because Of A Critical Mistake Made By 49ers Christian McCaffrey

The Pittsburgh Steelers offense was abysmal in their Week 1 beatdown that they received from the San Francisco 49ers, and after a successful preseason, it seems there is more work to do for the Steelers. There was one moment in their Week 1 contest where the offense looked like they had put something together, and that was on their last drive of the first half. However, this drive would have never happened had 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey not made a crucial mistake on the 49ers' last drive before halftime. 

McCaffrey's Mistake Led To A Steelers Score

On the most recent episode of the Bussin' With The Boys podcast presented by Barstool Sports, McCaffrey was a guest just one day after shredding the Steelers defense. The podcast's co-hosts, Will Compton and Taylor Lewan, asked him what his biggest mistake was during the game on Sunday, despite him having a great performance and the team overall having a great day. 

"It was before the half ended. I, like an idiot, you know we had a quick count up where the center just snaps the ball kind of right away. And I wasn't set. We're trying to bleed the clock out right before the half, minus 10 yards, we end up punting, they go down and score before the half. That was not one of my best moments."

The penalty was on McCaffrey and the 49ers for an illegal formation, and it was his fault. This put them behind the sticks as they lost 10 yards while trying to run the clock out and get to the half with a 20-0 lead. Because of the penalty, they were forced to punt which gave the Steelers another possession. The Steelers then miraculously found a way to put together a 95-yard drive which led to a touchdown to finally put some points on the board for the black and gold.

When the Steelers got the ball on their own 5-yard line for their last drive before the half, there wasn't a lot of optimism that they would find a way to go down the field and score. Mainly because they had yet to get a first down in the game, and they only had one positive yard in the game up till that point and were now being asked to take the ball 95 yards down the field with just a minute-and-a-half on the clock. 

Kenny Pickett and the rest of the offense found a way to march the ball down the field, with most of the yardage coming on a 24-yard run by Najee Harris who was also the recipient of a late-hit out of bounds which resulted in a 15-yard penalty that benefitted the Steelers. The drive ended on a touchdown pass from Pickett to third-year tight end Pat Freiermuth to make the score 20-7 before half, and give the Steelers some life. 

With the Steelers touchdown, the game no longer seemed out of reach as the teams went into the locker room for halftime. If the defense got a stop of the 49ers' first possession of the second-half, the comeback was looking amazing. However, on the 49ers' first possession, McCaffrey decided it was time to make up for his first-half mistake by rushing for a 65-yard touchdown to make the score 27-7. Despite his mistake, he had an amazing and what seemed to be a pretty easy day while rushing on the Steelers defense. 

McCaffrey finished the game with 152 rushing yards, 17 receiving yards, and one touchdown. It's fair to say he more than made up for his mistake which led to a Steelers touchdown at the end of the first half. The Steelers defense will have to find a way to be better against the run in Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns, as Nick Chubb comes to town. Allowing 150 plus rushing yards is not a recipe for success, and the Steelers will need to find a way to contain him. 

What do you think of McCaffrey's remarks? Let us know in the comments below!

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