5 things we learned: Steelers bad at pre-snap penalties but not worst team in NFL

Five things we learned from Eagles 35, Steelers 13:

1. False alarm

In his postgame interview, Najee Harris asserted that the Steelers must lead the NFL in pre-snap penalties. He made that proclamation after the Steelers offense was charged with four such infractions against the Eagles, including three on one drive.

As much as the second-year running back has harped on these penalties, his prediction that the Steelers are the league’s worst offenders is not correct. According to nflpenalties.com, the Steelers are tied for No. 9 in the league with 18 pre-snap penalties. The Denver Broncos have the most with an alarming 30 through eight games.

To Harris’ point, though, the Steelers do lead the NFL in several pre-snap subcategories. They have been flagged five times for having an ineligible receiver downfield. They also are the only team to be called for an illegal shift twice this season. They rank third by lining up in an illegal formation three times.

As for false starts, the Steelers have been flagged six times in eight games, which is nothing compared to the Broncos, who have drawn 15 such penalties.

2. Where’s George?

After George Pickens caught all six targets for 61 yards and a touchdown at Miami, it stood to reason that he would get more passes thrown in his direction.

That didn’t happen in Philadelphia, particularly in the second half when Pickens was shut out. Pickens was targeted three times overall and didn’t catch a pass. All three targets came in the first half.

Replays showed that one pass to Pickens along the sideline was a completion that was ruled to have been caught out of bounds by the officiating crew. Coach Mike Tomlin didn’t challenge the call. Pickens lost another reception when he was called for offensive pass interference.

3. Double watt-age

Nobody made more of his limited playing time than fullback Derek Watt. He was on the field for just three offensive snaps but caught a pair of passes, and he produced the only touchdown of the game for the Steelers.

The touchdown catch from the left-handed arm of Chase Claypool was the second in Watt’s career and first in his three seasons with the Steelers.

It also was the first time in 101 career games that Watt had more than one reception in a game. He finished with two catches for 6 yards. Not only did he conclude the team’s only touchdown drive, he started it with a 5-yard reception from Kenny Pickett.

4. Music to his ears

As the resident disc jockey in the locker room, special teams player Marcus Allen can be found spinning the hits after each practice.

Allen transferred his talents to the field against the Eagles when he made some noise on special teams. The fifth-year inside linebacker from Penn State led the Steelers with two special teams tackles. His biggest play, though, came on a fake punt in the second half.

The Steelers were trailing 28-10 and facing a fourth-and-2 at their 33 in the third quarter when Allen took the direct snap and bulled into the line for a 4-yard gain. The Steelers converted another fourth down before Nick Sciba kicked a 29-yard field goal to make it a two-score game.

Allen, by the way, is only 12,239 rushing yards behind the other Marcus Allen. You know, the one who played for the Raiders and Chiefs and is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

5. Deceptive gains

A look at the final stat sheet would indicate the Steelers took a step toward solving their run-game deficiencies against the Eagles. After all, they totaled 144 yards and averaged 6.0 yards per carry, both season highs.

Of course, it’s easier to run the ball when the other team has a double-digit lead and is content to trade rushing yards for a winding clock. The Steelers had 93 yards rushing after halftime when they stared at a 28-10 deficit the first time the offense took the field.

Jaylen Warren’s career-best 50 yards on six carries will lead to cries for more playing time for the undrafted rookie runner. No matter that his two longest runs — 12 and 19 yards — came on second-and-long when the Eagles were trying to defend the pass.

Warren perhaps has earned the chance to get the ball earlier in the game. He had just one attempt in the first half while starter Najee Harris gained zero yards on four attempts.

Befitting the second-half circumstances that allowed for favorable running conditions, Harris finished with 32 yards on eight carries.