The Pittsburgh Steelers took down a red-hot Washington Commanders team last week to secure their seventh win of 2024. Although Russell Wilson and the offense deserve a pat on the back for their performance, it was the defense being able to contain Jayden Daniels that really made a difference. It was the first time all season the Commanders seemed out of rhythm and it continued in their Thursday Night Football loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, setting back-to-back losses for Washington.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers Defense vs the Washington Commanders in Week 10 of 2024.
Washington got off to a much faster start this season than most anticipated. Daniels, in his rookie season, quickly became a feared threat to the rest of the National Football League, however. Through the first nine weeks, Daniels was averaging over 216 passing yards and 50 rushing yards per game. Washington's offense as a whole averaged over 390 total yards per game through their first 9 games
In Washington's loss to Pittsburgh, Daniels only totaled 202 passing yards and five rushing yards, as well as a career-low in completion percentage of 50.0%. In Thursday's loss to the Eagles, Daniels struggled again, only creating 209 total yards. During their two-game losing skid, the Commanders have only averaged 253 yards per game on offense. The Steelers may have laid the foundation on stopping this dynamic offense in Washington, and Lynnell Willingham, a radio host in Washington D.C., agrees.
"They just look different. The conversation we had this past week on sports talk radio in D.C. was, did the Pittsburgh Steelers put out the blueprint for how to contain and stop Washington offensively," Willingham said on Saturday. "Thursday wasn't something that was brand new. Thursday was a continuation of this group getting figured out."
Willingham proceeded to give the Steelers credit for their game-plan against the Commanders offense last week. Specifically, he credits their gap integrity and commitment to stopping the run game.
"There has been an adjustment from the opposing defenses. Pittsburgh started it off for me. They were so disciplined in their rush plan, maintaining gap integrity. The first nine weeks of the year, Washington played against defenses that were not consistent in their ability to maintain gap integrity. For that reason, we saw Jayden Daniels look like, outside of Lamar Jackson, the best rushing quarterback in the NFL. Now that has changed, here over the past week or so. And I give credit to the Pittsburgh Steelers."
As Willingham explained, Daniels' rushing numbers were sky-high before their matchup with the Steelers. Daniels carried the ball eight times or more in seven out of their nine games in Weeks 1-9 and averaged over 50 rushing yards per game. The concern in Washington is started to become very real as the team looks like they could be headed in a bad direction.
USA Today
The Pittsburgh Steelers may have thrown off the Commanders and QB Jayden Daniels for the rest of 2024.
Washington's offensive struggles could continue as opposing defenses will try to replicate what the Steelers and Eagles were able to do. Their final six games will come against the Dallas Cowboys twice, the Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and Eagles once more.
Steelers Defense Looks To Be Prepared For Future Matchups In 2024
After shutting down one of the hottest offenses in the NFL, Pittsburgh's defense looks prepared for other star quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts, who play similarly to Daniels. The Steelers still have to face off against Jackson twice and will play against Hurts and the Eagles next month, but their execution in containing Daniels points to no fear in the upcoming matchups. The Steelers are second in points allowed per game and eighth in total yards allowed per game.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers defense shuts down the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1 2024.
After Pittsburgh's win and Washington's two losses, both franchises seem to be heading in opposite directions. Willingham admitted that the Commanders have gone from contending for a Super Bowl to looking average. Do you think the Steelers started something horrible for Washington? What are your thoughts on both teams' trajectories? Let us know in the comments below.
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