The idiom “a knee jerk reaction” means that you respond to something in an equally unthinking way. That’s something as sports fans that we typically do, and if it’s in an unthinking way then I definitely qualify. Knee jerks apply especially if you are a full blood Yinzer, or even just a part Yinzer, who am I fooling it’s more like if you are a Steeler fan in general. As is the custom, I compile my knee-jerk thoughts and publish them immediately after each Steelers game (my son Kyle might have a few things to say as well). It’s my version of running my mouth first and apologizing later (if at all). So with that being said, it’s time to react to the Steelers Week 7 matchup against the Rams. Let’s get this going, HERE……WE……GO!!!

1st Quarter

• The Steelers will receive the kickoff. Kyle believes it will take only four plays for the defense to have to be on the field.
• You know it’s bad when Moose Johnston is even bringing up Pittsburgh going double R double P.
• Guess what? Kyle was right four plays in the defense will be on the field.
• Good to see Big Press back, but not good to see him starting out with a 35-yard punt.
• And nothing like seeing the defense up against a whole bunch of nobody running backs giving up 15 yards on the first run.
• After a holding call on Kevin Dotson, pressure from Highsmith leads to an Ogunjobi sack. Rams will punt.
• Wow. The Steelers just threw a pass that got YAC
• After a nice run by Najee, we get to see him on the very next play do what he should never do and that is give ground. That never ends up good for Najee running wide giving up ground.
• Nice punt by Big Press that time, pinning the Rams at the 6 yard line.
• The Steelers run defense is awful.
• Very poor design on that pass coverage play. Poor Pat Pete was given no chance to get inside on that coverage.
• Rams will attempt a very long field goal. Doink. Still no score.
• Diontae Johnson on a comeback route after coming back to the lineup.
• Diontae Johnson with a nice catch and run but they’re going to get George Pickens cracking back.
• End of the first quarter. Steelers 0, Rams 0.

2nd Quarter

• Boz will get a chance at a 53-yard field goal. Right down the middle. Money in the bank. I’m glad he’s on our team. Steelers 3, Rams 0.
• Steelers quickly get the Rams the 3rd & 11 and out pops the zone defense to allow Cooper Kupp tons of space between two Steelers.
• Back-to-back penalties on the Rams has them now at 2nd & 30.
• Defense holds up and forces the punt.
• So after the Steelers grab the lead, the defense does what it should and gets the Rams off the field. The offense then comes out and promptly goes 3 & out. Talk about some complimentary football there.
• That was another mediocre punt from Presley Harvin III.
• Nick Herbig gets home for a sack.
• Another play on 3rd & 11 where a receiver had absolutely nobody around him to pick up the first down.
• The Rams make a field goal. Steelers 3, Rams 3.
• After one nice throw to George Pickens, the offense looks terrible. Kenny spins out basically into a sack but instead throws it away but gets flagged for intentional grounding.
• It’s that constant spin to the left to try to get out of pressure, only to go into more pressure that makes me feel Kenny Pickett will not be an elite quarterback in the NFL.
• Steelers give up a big catch and run on 3rd & 3. Guess who in coverage…….Levi Wallace.
• Stafford throws up a ball blindly that looks like the Steelers should probably intercept it, but leave it to Levi Wallace to screw it up and give up a touchdown.
• Extra point is missed. Rams 9, Steelers 3. That’s the half.

3rd Quarter

• T.J. Watt with the interception!!! Returns it to the six-yard line.
• Kenny Pickett sneaks it in from the one-yard line. The PAT puts the Steelers up 10 to 9.
• Steelers being outgained 226 yards to 98 yards, but somehow have the lead.
• Looked like the Steelers were going to hold to a 3 & out, but T.J. gets called for lining up in the neutral zone. Never did get a good replay on TV to show if he was or not.
• Then they turn around on the challenge by Tomlin and they never on the TV show the entire play as soon as they show the guys toe down they stop. If the play continues and his heel hits down out of bounds it would then be an incomplete pass but I never even get a look to see if it is or not because they stop the play.
• Rams score touchdown on a drive I’m not sure should have ever been allowed to continue multiple times. I almost feel like Fox was not showing replays because they didn’t want to show up the NFL.
• Rams get the 2-pt conversion. Rams 17, Steelers 10. Also interesting as they were leaving break they showed that catch that was challenged, and Kyle says his heel came down out of bounds that should not have been a catch.
• After 8 yards did Dionte Johnson, I called it to Kyle saying it would be a slow to develop run play, and that’s exactly what we got. Add a hold on top of it by Chuks. After that I see this offensive series going nowhere probably.
• How about 3 & out for the offense?
• If there was a time the Steelers needed the offense to come out and do something that would have been the place for it. But as Matt Canada says this team isn’t designed to play from behind so what did we expect.
• The Rams are driving and starting to take complete control of this game.
• The defense holds them to a field goal try. And Maher manages to miss it left. Score still Rams 17, Steelers 10.
• I am really starting to feel that not only is the Steelers offensive scheme awful, but Kenny Pickett isn’t it.
• End of the quarter. Ram 17, Steelers 10.

4th Quarter

• Diontae Johnson with the catch and run.
• Jaylen Warren!!!!! Touchdown!!!!
• Steelers 17, Rams 17.
• Defense holds to a 3 & out. Can the offense keep their momentum going?
• George, quit yapping and get back to the huddle after that catch. Great job George you end up getting flagged for it. Talk about an idiot move.
• Kenny sneaks it on 3rd & 1 and makes the first down.
• The Steelers quickly move the football down into the red zone.
• Najee! Give the rock to the Naj!
• Steelers 24, Rams 17.
• The defense does its job. They get a lot of pressure on Stafford. Now the offense needs to do its job run this clock out get at least a field goal and put this game away.
• After a nice run by Najee on first down, they come back with a slow developing predictable run on second down that gets nothing.
• There’s George Pickens down the middle doing George Pickens type things.
• The Steelers look like they are settling to make the Rams use their timeouts and run the clock, but I wish they would look to get into field goal range to put this game away.
• There the Steelers get a call on pass interference to Diontae Johnson. That makes up for the mess ups and giving Nakua that catch earlier. But Diontae gets a flag for unsportsman like conduct. They offset and the Steelers do not get a first down.
• The Steelers are now facing 4th down and about a foot and a half. They are going to go for it. If they convert the game is over.
• Not very good there by Kenny Pickett as he slips down. I think he’s going to end up short.
• The Steelers make it by an inch and the Rams can’t challenge as they do not have a timeout.
• The narrative after the game will be how the referees screwed the Rams, and everybody will forget about how they had been screwing the Steelers up until the very end of the game.
• The Steelers are in victory formation! My favorite formation.
• 3-2-1 Win!!!!
• It was another ugly game but somehow the Steelers come out on top. Steelers 24, Rams 17.

Once again, I just fired off what was going through my head at the time. All reactions were in real time. Basically, it is the equivalent of watching the game with a me and Kyle, you just don’t have to go to another room because of my screaming at the television (sometimes Kyle leaves the room). Now time to process it, some quick analyzing for the Scho Bro Show, and then put it behind me as we move toward, Week 8 and the Jags. Make sure you get your voice heard in the comments below.