Simplified approach leads to best running game of season for Steelers in win over Raiders

Fresh off the worst two-game stretch of running the ball since early in his rookie season, Najee Harris got together with the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive linemen last week to search for answers.

The meeting produced the necessary results. The Steelers didn’t exactly turn back the clock to 1976 when Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier exceeded 1,000 yards each, but improvement was made Sunday night in a 23-18 victory against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.

After rushing for a combined 96 yards in two games, the Steelers cracked triple digits, finishing with 105 in a win that improved their record to 2-1.

Harris led the way with 65 yards on 19 carries, setting a season high in each category.

“We sat down with the O-line, and we talked about what runs we think works best that they like,” Harris said. “They asked me what I like, but I never tell them what I like because it doesn’t matter what I like.”

A decision was made to trim the play list and focus on doing a few plays well rather than adding more to the menu.

“They liked these runs, and they executed,” Harris said. “The O-line won the game for us. It was them executing. We’re going to get better. It’s only the third game. … We’re just going upward. That is our trajectory.”

That is what transpired at the midpoint of the 2022 season when the Steelers transformed from one of the NFL’s least successful running teams to one of the best, averaging 146 yards after the bye week.

When the running game lost its footing in the first two weeks despite having four starters return on the offensive line as well as backs Jaylen Warren and Harris, coach Mike Tomlin said the offense had lost its “mojo.”

Harris laughed off Tomlin’s remarks.

“Mike T just be talking (stuff),” he said. “You’re going to have some games where stuff doesn’t go you way. All that matters is what you do on the next play, the next game. That is more of a challenge he gave us. That’s the way he challenges us, he challenges me. He puts up film and says you’ve got to win these one-on-ones.

“It was a challenge he gave me. Losing the mojo, that was a challenge to come out the next game and just worry about the next play.”

The turnaround didn’t come easily. Then again, nothing has gone according to plan in the early stages this season. The Steelers went three-and-out on their opening two possessions against the Raiders before quarterback Kenny Pickett awakened the offense with a 72-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin.

The score provided the initial first down for the Steelers in the opening quarter for the entire season. They got another on the next possession, then three and four on drives that ended with Chris Boswell field goals that provided a 13-7 halftime lead.

“We played very fundamental football,” guard James Daniels said. “That’s all it takes. It’s really all on us (up front) and how detailed we are in our assignments.”

Although Harris had just 28 rushing yards at the break on 10 carries, the Steelers had 65 yards rushing and were providing the type of balance that was missing against San Francisco and Cleveland.

“The biggest thing for us is trying to get first downs,” tackle Dan Moore Jr. said. “We talk about it every week, getting chunk plays. Five scoring drives, that is what we want to get going.”

On their first possession of the second half, the Steelers got a nine-play, 52-yard drive that ended with Boswell’s 57-yard field goal that made it a two-score game. After a Patrick Peterson interception, the Steelers marched 81 yards on six plays and took a 23-7 lead on Pat Freiermuth’s 13-yard touchdown catch.

The touchdown was set up by a 17-yard run from Harris.

“Every run isn’t going to hit big,” he said. “You’ve got to chew away at it.”

Pickett’s touchdown pass to Freiermuth came on a play-action call, which worked because of the running game’s success.

“When you run the ball, it opens up a lot,” Harris said. “That is our identity. We’ve got to run the ball. That is who we are. That’s who we’ve been for my three years here. When you run the ball, it opens up a lot for the receivers, opens up the play-action, opens up for the tight ends.”

Thanks, in part, to the running game the Steelers held an edge in time of possession for the first time this season. They also ran the ball more times than Pickett attempted passes, another first.

“Today was a good start,” Daniels said, “but it’s also just one game. We have to keep focusing. When we start practicing Wednesday, we have to keep focusing on those details and fundamentals.”