First Half Thoughts From the Steelers 16-8 Disaster in Miami

Disaster in Miami. That’s about the only way you can describe the first half with the Steelers down to the Dolphins 16-8.

To make matters worse, the team is currently without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury.

The Steelers allowed a first quarter field goal until the Steelers got a big play from Darrius Heyward-Bey, who went 60 yards for the teams only touchdown.

That was about the only highlight, as Miami scored 13 points and took an 8-poing lead to the locker room. Here’s a couple ugly first half thoughts on this game, and if the Steelers can rally back down eight.

* Running game has been average at best. The team got the big 60-yard run from Heyward-Bey, but other than that and a few okay runs from Le’Veon Bell, this team has not run the ball as well as they should have against a team that has allowed over 150 yards per game. Don’t let the 119 first-half yards on the ground fool you, take away the 60-yard run and that goes to 59 yards. They have not imposed their will at all in the run game, and the offensive line is having it’s second worse game of the season next to the Eagles game.

* The defense is making Ryan Tannehill look like Dan Marino, with little to no pressure (what else is new), and then he’s been able to scramble and hit a couple big downfield plays. The big one was the second one to Jarvis Landry which got them inside the five and led to the go-ahead touchdown. Tannehill is 14-for-20 for 175 yards and he’s not made any real big mistakes, which is why Miami has an 8-point lead. The lack of pressure on QB’s this season other than the Chiefs game is becoming a major concern.

* Landry Jones last season came in and beat the Cardinals with a huge second half, and if the Steelers are going to find a way to come back, they have to allow him to throw the ball. If he’s the man in the second half, it’s going to put a huge amount of pressure on Antonio Brown and any other wide out or tight end that’s on the field. They have to find ways to get away from the Dolphins defenders and get open. Right now this offense looks out of sync, and has for almost the entire game. There’s been no flow at all to how this team is playing – and now you know why I was so concerned all week about this matchup.