AFC North
82 OVR
dksvault
Offense
Total: 6881 (18)
Passing: 5411 (12)
Rushing: 1470 (24)
Vertical Zone Run
Defense
Total: 7200 (21)
Passing: 5401 (22)
Rushing: 1799 (16)
Base 4-3
Total: 9-7-0
Conf: 7-4-0
Div: 3-2-0
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Passing Leaders
Player Comp/Att Yards TDs INTs
D.Ridder 312/447 4304 43 14
A.Rodgers 83/115 1376 11 2
Receiving Leaders
Player Recs Yards TDs
D.Metcalf 62 1269 17
J.Smith 67 928 9
C.Austin 50 772 7
N.Carter 69 709 4
D.Washington 31 539 5
Rushing Leaders
Player Ats Yards TDs
N.Carter 157 1003 13
J.Warren 61 221 1
D.Ridder 23 146 1
K.Johnson 13 40 0
A.Rodgers 17 39 0
Defensive Leaders
Player Tackles Sacks INTs FFs
P.Queen 50 1.5 5 2
D.Slay Jr 43 0 3 0
P.Wilson 40 3.5 3 2
J.Ramsey 40 0 2 1
J.Porter 34 0 5 0
AFC North
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Recent Posts

Forged In Steel Times (#61) – Snow, Grit, and a Game That Got Away, Steelers Fall 42-35

PITTSBURGH – Snow fell steadily over FirstEnergy Stadium as two AFC North heavyweights clashed in a late-December showdown that felt more like a playoff game than a regular-season battle. The stakes were sky-high, the energy was electric, and for the Pittsburgh Steelers, it all came down to a handful of plays that slipped away. Literally and figuratively.

When the snow settled, the scoreboard read Browns 42, Steelers 35. And while the loss stung, one truth remains: Pittsburgh’s season is not over yet.

A Frozen Shootout

Quarterback Desmond Ridder delivered another strong performance statistically, throwing for 368 yards and two touchdowns while completing 73 percent of his passes. His lone blemish came on a brutal missed opportunity to a wide-open Nate Carter streaking up the sideline for what could have been a touchdown. Instead, the pass hung in the snowy air and fell short into the arms of a Cleveland defender.

“Just a bad ball,” Ridder said postgame. “No excuses. I saw it, I knew it, and I just missed it.”

Aside from that one throw, Ridder was poised and efficient. His 111.0 passer rating told the story of a quarterback who continues to evolve in Coach DK LaFleur’s system. But sometimes, even strong numbers can’t make up for the fine details that separate wins from losses.

The Carter Connection

Rookie running back Nate Carter was once again the spark plug that kept Pittsburgh’s offense moving. Though he was held to just 28 yards on 13 carries, he made his presence felt everywhere else, particularly as a receiver out of the backfield. Carter hauled in six passes for 73 yards and a touchdown, often bailing out Ridder on checkdowns and quick routes to beat the Browns’ pressure.

He also added two short-yardage rushing touchdowns, showcasing his nose for the end zone even when the ground game wasn’t finding much traction.

“Nate gives us a chance every time he touches the ball,” LaFleur said. “Even when it’s not clicking on the ground, he finds ways to impact the game. That’s the kind of player you build around.”

Metcalf Unleashed

D.K. Metcalf turned in one of his best games of the year, torching Cleveland’s secondary for eight receptions, 163 yards, and a touchdown. His physicality and speed were a constant problem for the Browns defense, especially in the first half, when Ridder repeatedly found him on deep crossers and sideline routes.

Metcalf’s production opened up the field for others, including Alec Pierce, who chipped in four catches for 47 yards, and tight end Jonnu Smith, who helped keep drives alive with key blocks and short-yard gains.

It was a performance that once again showed Pittsburgh’s offensive potential, and one that can light up the scoreboard against anyone in the league.

The Snow Turnover Swing

In games like this, the margin for error is microscopic, and one moment can define the outcome. For Pittsburgh, that moment came late in the fourth quarter.

After veteran defensive tackle Cameron Heyward recorded a clutch sack with just over a minute remaining, it looked like the Steelers were about to get one more shot. Tie game, they forced a punt with the ball set to return to their offense.

Then disaster struck.

Calvin Austin III, who had already delivered am 86-yard punt return touchdown earlier in the game, fielded the kick and tried to make a move upfield. However, Cleveland laid a big hit and popped the ball loose, and the Browns recovered deep in Pittsburgh territory.

Cleveland wasted no time. A few plays later, they punched in the game-winning touchdown run with only 12 seconds left on the clock.

“I just wanted to make a play,” Austin said afterward, visibly frustrated. “That’s on me. I can’t let that happen in that situation.”

It was a heartbreaking finish for a player who had earlier electrified the sideline with one of the team’s biggest special teams moments of the year.

Defensive Miscues

While the offense kept pace in the snow, the defense had its share of breakdowns. Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders was magnificent, throwing for 452 yards and four touchdowns despite constant pressure.

T.J. Watt recorded another sack, and Lewis Cine intercepted a fourth-down pass in the red zone to swing momentum in the third quarter, but it wasn’t enough to contain Sanders’ big-play ability. Several times, the young quarterback rolled out of the pocket and launched throws 30 or 40 yards downfield on the run, which led to backbreaking conversions that kept drives alive.

“We had them locked up on a few of those,” said linebacker Patrick Queen. “But he extended plays, and that’s the difference between getting off the field and giving up points.”

Queen himself dropped what could have been a huge interception over the middle in the first half, which was a play that instead led to an eventual Cleveland touchdown.

“You make that play, the whole game shifts,” Queen admitted. “That’s on me.”

Even with the miscues, there were flashes of excellence. Payton Wilson continued to fly around, logging seven tackles, one tackle for loss, and near-constant pursuit in the snow. Heyward’s late sack nearly gave the Steelers the comeback opportunity they needed, and Cine’s red-zone interception was one of the defensive highlights of the day.

But against a quarterback playing lights-out, a few “almost” plays simply weren’t enough.

Playoff Stakes Rising

The loss drops Pittsburgh to 9-7, putting them in a dogfight in the AFC alongside many other franchise vying for a spot. While the loss complicates the path, the Steelers may still control their destiny.

Their Week 18 matchup against Baltimore has now become a potential win-and-in scenario. It may not be the playoffs on paper yet, but for Coach DK LaFleur and his team, the postseason has already begun.

“This is it,” LaFleur said bluntly after the game. “We’ve been playing meaningful football for weeks now, and next week is no different. If we win, we might be in. That’s all that matters.”

Eyes on the Response

The snow may have buried the field in Cleveland, but it also set the stage for a defining moment in Pittsburgh’s season.

The Steelers had every opportunity to seize the game and learned hard lessons instead. If there’s one thing this team has shown under DK LaFleur, it’s resilience.

As the head coach told reporters before leaving the podium, “It’s not about what happens to you. It’s about how you respond. And we’re going to respond.”

Next week, they’ll get their chance.

The playoff race is alive. The season is on the line. And as the snow melts in Cleveland, all eyes turn to Baltimore, where the Steelers will fight for their postseason life.

– Forged In Steel Times

Quartebacks
Name
Age
Hgt
Pos
OVR
SPD
ACC
AGI
COD
THP
SAC
MAC
DAC
TUP
TOR
PAC
BKS
Backs
Name
Age
Hgt
Pos
OVR
SPD
ACC
AGI
COD
STR
AWR
JKM
SPM
SFA
TRK
BCV
CTH
SRR
RBK
IBK
LBK
Receivers
Name
Age
Hgt
Pos
OVR
SPD
ACC
AGI
COD
STR
AWR
JMP
JKM
SPM
SFA
TRK
BCV
CTH
CIT
SPC
SRR
MRR
DRR
RLS
RBK
IBK
LBK
Offensive Line
Name
Age
Hgt
Pos
OVR
ACC
AGI
COD
STR
AWR
PBK
RBK
IBK
LBK
Defensive Line
Name
Age
Hgt
Pos
OVR
SPD
ACC
AGI
COD
STR
AWR
BSH
FMV
PMV
TCK
PWR
PUR
PRC
Linebackers
Name
Age
Hgt
Pos
OVR
SPD
ACC
AGI
COD
STR
JMP
AWR
BSH
FMV
PMV
TCK
PWR
PUR
PRC
ZCV
MCV
Defensive Backs
Name
Age
Hgt
Pos
OVR
SPD
ACC
AGI
COD
STR
JMP
AWR
ZCV
MCV
BSH
TCK
PWR
PUR
PRC
Kicking
Name
Age
Hgt
Pos
OVR
SPD
ACC
AGI
COD
STR
AWR
KPW
KAC

Regular Season

 
 
 
34
 
 
 
16
 
 
 
 
21
 
 
 
20
 
 
 
 
39
 
 
 
42
 
 
 
 
42
 
 
 
49
 
 
 
 
BYE
 
 
 
 
31
 
 
 
28
 
 
 
 
28
 
 
 
24
 
 
 
 
48
 
 
 
58
 
 
 
 
31
 
 
 
38
 
 
59
 
 
 
60
 
 
38
 
 
 
55
 
 
33
 
 
 
55
 
 
36
 
 
 
48
 
 
34
 
 
 
31
 
 
24
 
 
 
31
 
 
10
 
 
 
28
 
 
35
 
 
 
42
 
 
0
 
 
 
0
 

Playoffs

Preseason

 
 
 
14
 
 
 
17
 
 
 
 
10
 
 
 
6
 
 
 
 
17
 
 
 
24
 

Regular Season and Playoffs

Team Stats
Offense
Stat
Defense
6881 (18) Total Yards 7200 (21)
5411 (12) Pass Yards 5401 (22)
1470 (24) Rush Yards 1799 (16)
Passing
Player
Comp/Att
%
Yards
TDs
INTs
Long
Rating
D.Ridder 312/447 69.8 4304 43 14 78 119.3
A.Rodgers 83/115 72.2 1376 11 2 76 136.9
Totals
395/562
70.3
5680
54
16
78
122.9
Receiving
Player
Recs
Yards
Long
YAC
Drops
TDs
D.Metcalf 62 1269 73 409 6 17
J.Smith 67 928 57 351 3 9
C.Austin 50 772 78 239 5 7
N.Carter 69 709 35 558 6 4
D.Washington 31 539 66 208 4 5
Totals
393
5645
78
2467
29
53
Rushing
Player
Attempts
Yards
Long
Broken Tackles
TDs
Fumbles
N.Carter 157 1003 82 29 13 2
J.Warren 61 221 29 11 1 1
D.Ridder 23 146 35 2 1 3
K.Johnson 13 40 12 10 0 0
A.Rodgers 17 39 13 0 0 1
Totals
279
1470
82
98
16
11
Defense
Player
Tackles
Sacks
INTs
FFs
FRs
TDs
P.Queen 50 1.5 5 2 0 0
D.Slay Jr 43 0 3 0 1 2
P.Wilson 40 3.5 3 2 2 1
J.Ramsey 40 0 2 1 1 0
J.Porter 34 0 5 0 2 1
Totals
436
38.5
26
12
7
5
Kicking
Player
FGs
Long
XPs
KOs
TBs
C.Boswell 19/24 52 70/72 111 8
Totals
19/24
52
70/72
111
8
Punting
Player
Punts
Yards
Long
In 20
TBs
Avg
Net Avg
C.Waitman 27 1026 55 9 3 38 33.2
Totals
27
1026
55
9
3
38
33.2

Preseason

Team Stats
Offense Stat Defense
715 (29) Total Yards 839 (8)
495 (28) Pass Yards 569 (9)
220 (29) Rush Yards 270 (11)
Passing
Player Comp/Att % Yards TDs INTs Long Rating
M.Rudolph 25/46 54.3 297 0 0 27 74.4
A.Rodgers 22/34 64.7 198 2 1 22 87.5
Totals 47/80 58.8 495 2 1 27 80
Receiving
Player Recs Yards Long YAC Drops TDs
J.Smith 9 122 27 34 0 0
S.Miller 9 122 21 28 1 0
C.Austin 5 67 22 17 0 0
P.Freiermuth 8 54 11 25 0 0
D.Metcalf 7 47 9 17 0 2
B.Skowronek 2 19 12 8 0 0
D.Washington 2 19 13 6 0 0
J.Warren 1 17 17 9 0 0
K.Gainwell 3 16 7 10 0 0
K.Johnson 1 12 12 11 0 0
Totals 47 495 27 165 1 2
Rushing
Player Attempts Yards Long Broken Tackles TDs Fumbles
J.Warren 26 85 7 2 0 0
K.Johnson 22 69 9 4 0 0
M.Rudolph 8 37 8 1 1 0
A.Rodgers 4 20 6 1 0 0
K.Gainwell 3 12 6 0 0 0
D.Metcalf 1 -3 0 0 0 0
Totals 64 220 9 8 1 0
Defense
Player Tackles Sacks INTs FFs FRs TDs
C.Holcomb 12 0 0 0 0 0
P.Queen 12 0 1 0 0 0
J.Porter 12 0 0 0 0 0
D.Elliott 10 0 0 0 0 0
M.Harrison 9 0 0 0 0 0
C.Clark 8 0 0 0 0 0
P.Wilson 7 0 0 0 0 0
J.Ramsey 7 0 0 0 0 0
A.Highsmith 7 1.5 0 0 0 0
C.Heyward 6 1 0 0 0 0
B.Echols 6 0 0 0 0 0
T.Watt 5 2.5 0 0 0 0
T.Washington 4 0 0 0 0 0
C.Bruener 3 0 0 0 0 0
J.Thornhill 3 0 0 0 0 0
D.Slay Jr 3 0 0 0 0 0
D.Harmon 2 1 0 0 0 0
B.Spector 2 0 0 0 0 0
J.Sawyer 1 1 0 0 0 0
N.Herbig 1 1 0 0 0 0
J.Dumas-Johnson 1 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 121 8 1 0 0 0
Kicking
Player FGs Long XPs KOs TBs
C.Boswell 5/5 56 2/2 6 6
Totals 5/5 56 2/2 6 6
Punting
Player Punts Yards Long In 20 TBs Avg Net Avg
C.Waitman 14 726 68 3 4 51.9 49.4
Totals 14 726 68 3 4 51.9 49.4

Draft Picks

Team Year Round Pick Overall

Players

Player Pos Value OVR Age Dev Cap Hit Net Savings Penalty Salary Bonus Length Years Left