A Thursday night contest between the Steelers and Browns could have been an unwatchable slop fest, but it was actually a real game. The Steelers, who looked cooked offensively over the first two games, moved the ball well, and Aaron Rodgers still has a little juice in that arm after all. Oddly it was their defense that let them down, giving up that last game-winning field-goal drive.
The Browns are also a real team, and it makes me feel a lot better about going out with the Chargers Week 1 one in Survivor against the Cardinals rather than taking the in-hindsight obvious Jaguars over the doormat Browns. Those doormat Browns have won every game since, while the Cardinals have lost their two games since.
DeShaun Watson is doing a decent job game-managing, though he did throw a pick and fumble twice. He still scrambles well, making a defender miss on a key third down.
Quinshon Judkins (17-53-1, 7-6-43-0) finally had a good game, and he looked quicker and more elusive to me, though he managed only 3.1 YPC.
Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion led the team in receiving yards, though Watson spread the ball around, including Harold Fannin (another TD) and even Jerry Jeudy. You can almost squint and see this as a potential stack down the stretch if the defense plays poorly.
Rodgers had pressure in his face all game, took five sacks and threw two picks, but still got the ball down the field. He took a lot of hits for an old man.
Jaylen Warren (17-93-0, 6-3-33-0) is a bell cow with Rico Dowdle out, He also looks the part.
DK Metcalf (9-5-115-0) finally broke out. He doesn’t really get open, but Rodgers threw some nice balls to him, and he’s big and strong enough to make catches with defenders on top of him.
Roman Wilson (6-3-74-1) scored for the second straight week. It seems like Rodgers trusts him now, while Michael Pittman is the odd man out.