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 or nephew Warren 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 10 against the Commanders. Let’s get this going, HERE……WE……GO!!!

1st Quarter

• Steelers will receive the opening kickoff.
• Steelers quickly get to a third down and two. Let’s start the third down conversions off on the right foot please.
• The Steelers run it with Patterson and don’t make it. Not the start they were looking for.
• Washington muffed the kick but was able to get back on it.
• The Commanders quickly get to a third down. Can the Steelers defense get off the field?
• Pass is incomplete and the Steelers will get the ball back.
• Not much on offense from either side so far.
• Najee is still running the ball hard.
• Jaylen Warren also running hard
• How about a roughing the passer call for Russ. Steelers enter the red zone.
• Touchdown George Pickens. That was a thing of beauty. Steelers 7, Commanders 0.
• Patrick Queen blew up that run play.
• Get down Mr. President! Cam Heyward with a sack! Commanders will punt.
• Kyle and I agree that the Steelers should go score another touchdown.
• Oh no. That’s not the way to start. Russ takes a sack.
• On 3rd and 18 the Steelers decide to just hand off to Warren and he gains two yards. So much for a touchdown on that drive. The Steelers lose 6 yards total.
• Oh my goodness the Steelers try to fake punt deep in their own territory. It was there but James Pierre didn’t catch it. There is a surprise. Pierre can’t catch.
• Pierre needed to catch the ball first as he was trying to score a touchdown before he secured the ball.
• Because of the short field the Steelers are going to give up a touchdown. Washington has it first and goal.
• And as I said the Commanders score on the next play. Steelers 7, Commanders 7. Thanks to the bad play on the fake punt.
• The Steelers quickly to another third and long. After the touchdown the offense is done nothing.
• Steelers come up empty on 3rd down and punt it again. What was looking promising for the Steelers has so quickly flipped.
• Larry O. With a tackle for a loss.
• Washington goes three and out. Steelers will receive a punt.
• The Steelers pick up a first down, and find the end of the first quarter. Steelers 7, Commanders 7.

2nd Quarter

• It almost looks like Washington knows where the Steelers running plays are going.
• Wilson completes on 3rd down to Pickens but didn’t hit him in stride so George couldn’t keep going for the first down.
• The Commanders muff the punt for the second time today and it looks like the Steelers recovered.
• Muth with the catch. Gets it inside the five and the Steelers are now first and goal.
• Muuuth! For the TD! Steelers make good on the turnover. Steelers 14, Commanders 7.
• Porter gets flagged for interference. Commanders are driving.
• Now the Steelers decide to miss a bunch of tackles and give up another first down.
• The Steelers get Washington for losses on the next two plays. Third down.
• The Commanders will attempt a 48-yard field goal. It’s good. Steelers 14, Commanders 10.
• Steelers quickly find their way to third down and four.
• Russ scrambles and runs for the first down.
• On third down and 10 the Steelers have to call a timeout as the play clock was running out.
• Steelers are forced to punt, and are able to down the ball around the 5-yard line.
• Alex Highmith blows up that play for a sack, unfortunately there were two flags in the secondary. Joey Porter Jr gets flagged for a face mask to take away the sack.
• Steelers playing too much zone right now and allowing the tight ends to eat them up.
• Steelers call a timeout before the third down and then give up a big play right down the middle of the field. Why bother to take the time out there?
• The Steelers are going to end up giving up a touchdown here right before the half. We went away from everything that was working defensively right now.
• The Steelers got lucky that the receiver dropped the ball in the end zone. He was wide open.
• JPJ getting two handsy again and gets a pass interference call. First and goal on the one for the Commanders
• Commander score touchdown and grab the lead before halftime. The Steelers have done everything they could to make sure they weren’t leading in this game. Commanders 17, Steelers 14.
• The Steelers went into their bend don’t break defense on that drive, and I don’t know why. They had been playing stout defense all game. Almost all of Washington’s yards in the first half came on that drive.

3rd Quarter

• How about leaving Terry McClaurin wide open on the first play, take a bad angle and JPJ had to run him down after 54 yards.
• The Steelers have decided not to cover Terry McClaurin is half apparently. First and goal Commanders.
• Nice to see the Steelers give up a five play drive for a touchdown. Great defensive adjustments there at halftime (yes, that was sarcasm). Commanders 24, Steelers 14.
• Russ has been off target with throws today. Just missed a wide open Pruitt.
• Big run by Warren on the check down pass. And I think the Steelers will get penalty yards added on top of it.
• No they decide to pick up the flag of course. Because it would have been on Washington.
• Russ is also holding the ball too long today and that is resulting in sacks.
• George Pickens doing George Pickens things and gets the ball down into the red zone.
• Najee picks up the first down at the two yard line. First and goal Steelers.
• Najee gets it in for the score. Commanders 24, Steelers 21.
• Why are the Steelers not kicking the ball out of the end zone? Big return for the commanders gets them almost to midfield.
• So after the officials call a hold on Washington and they start moving the ball back suddenly they call a hold on Pittsburgh on defense as well. Something’s not right here today.
• The third down pass gets tipped up in the air and T.J. Watt almost comes down with it. The Commanders will punt.
• Hey there’s a surprise they’re going to throw a flag on the Steelers for holding here.
• Broderick Jones is having too many negative plays for the Steelers right now. They’re going to have to think about sitting him down.
• The third down pass from Russ is nowhere close to the receiver. I am not sure what he is doing today.
• Not a very good punt. Washington will start in Steelers territory.
• On third down and two there were two missed tackles so the Commanders pick up the first.
• The Commanders knocked down a field goal. Commander’s 27, Steelers 21.
• Russell sacked again. The offensive line is not pass blocking at all.
• Rust throws deep and is picked off. Weird part is George Pickens never touched the guy down and allowed a big return.
• Luckily it looks like George Pickens foot hit the defensive backs foot while he was down. At least it turns into what was basically a punt.
• I would really like to see the Steelers offense start throwing the ball to the two tight ends.
• And then a big play happens to McLaurin.
• Cam Heyward bulls his way through and sacks the quarterback!
• End of the third quarter. Commanders 27, Steelers 21.

4th Quarter

• Preston Smith getting in on the action and making a play on what looked to be a trick play from the Commanders.
• Steelers are faced with a third down and one. Will they run it here…..no. Pass the George Pickens for a first down.
• I don’t like the fact that on third down and one the Steelers telegraphed the play and Najee was stopped short. And Najee is now down on the field.
• The Steelers are going to go for it on 4th and 1. Luckily Jaylen Warren makes the line to gain.
• Nice pass and catch to George Pickens on the sideline. That guy is so good at tapping down toes.
• Big run by Jaylen Warren on 3rd and 2. Steelers have the ball near the 10 yard line.
• Warren was stopped short of the goal line. But they’re saying the ball came out and Washington recovered.
• You can’t do that as you’re going into the end zone. You have to secure the football.
• Thanks to a holding call the Steelers defense holds and the Commanders will punt.
• Steelers start their drive with an illegal formation penalty. Now they’ll play from behind the sticks.
• Stop running the stupid pitch play! It hasn’t done anything!
• Steelers now facing third down and three.
• Muuuth for the first down.
• Russ tries to hit Washington but Washington wasn’t even looking for the ball.
• Welcome to Pittsburgh Mike Williams! Russ throws it up Williams runs under it touchdown Steelers! Boswell for the extra point. Steelers 28, Commanders 27.
• Alex Highmith just injured what looks like his ankle. It is not good.
• Is anybody surprised that that pass was completed in front of James Pierre? Why in the world is he in the game?
• T.J. Watt knocks down the pass. The Steelers need more pressure here.
• The Commanders are faced with fourth down and nine. The Steelers could basically end the game here.
• The Steelers hold them short, but I have a feeling that they will review this and end up giving it to Washington.
• I think he is still short on this but you know how the NFL is.
• Thank God the ruling on the field stands. The Steelers take over.
• The Steelers need to grind out a first down here because Washington has all three timeouts.
• Why did the Steelers pitch it?
• Patterson runs hard, but comes up short. Looks like the Steelers will have to punt.
• Oh this is a terrible call by the Steelers sending the offense back out on the field. I bet that they line up and just try to draw them offsides and then take a time out.
• The Steelers line up to draw them offsides and it works!
• The Steelers will now line up in victory formation.
• Lining up in victory formation is so much better than punting it and hoping the defense holds on.
• 3-2-1 WIN!!!
• Was it the prettiest? No it was not. It had its good moments and it had it ugly moments, but in the end it’s a victory for the Steelers.

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 (Warren too), 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 so I can ready myself for Wang Harbs and Week 10 matchup against the Ravens. Make sure you get your voice heard in the comments below.