There are times as an educator, something I was for 16 years, when you see that stack of quizzes or tests sitting on your desk and you just have to wait to grade them. Sometimes it is based on the fact you just haven’t carved out time to dive into the grading process, and other times you have a strong feeling the class, as a whole, didn’t do well on this assignment.

When it comes to grading the Pittsburgh Steelers Week 16 game vs. the Cincinnati Bengals, it was more the former than anything else. As always, I felt the best course of action was to just wait a bit, let the dust settle, and then visit the grades without the emotions of the game still fresh in my mind.

Did it improve the grades much? For the first time in a while, it did. Time to get out the red pen and try to make grade out this game…

Offense

It wasn’t the 400+ yard performance the Steelers had the last time they played the Bengals, but it had something which that same performance didn’t have…points. The game in Cincinnati ended up in a whopping 16 points while the game Saturday saw the team eclipse the 30-point threshold for the first time this season. It was the best offensive performance of the season, but that’s a pretty low bar to clear.

Grade: A

Defense

The Steelers defensive secondary was being held by sticks and some glue, but those sticks and glue still made plays. Three takeaways and constant harassment of Jake Browning had the team put forth a dominant performance. Outside of Tee Higgins’ big catch-and-run, the defense nearly pitched a perfect game. Still a winning performance.

Grade: A

Special Teams

Chris Boswell hit a 50-yard field goal, and Pressley Harvin III had a tremendous hold on that field goal, but the grade being sub-par is all on the punting. Harvin’s punting has been as inconsistent as the punters who came before him, and he very well find himself in the same category as players like Jordan Berry and Brad Wing. As in looking for a new team.

Grade: C

Coaching

The Steelers put together a great performance, and you have to give props for the coaching staff developing a plan which equated to the Steelers coming out and performing well. Mason Rudolph spoke about adjustments Mike Sullivan made to the game plan which he liked, and the defensive approach of running more zone concepts, out of necessity, also was a welcome sight for an often lackluster coaching staff. They passed the grade this week.

Grade: A

It’s been a while, but the Steelers get an ‘A’ this week. It always is more enjoyable to do these grade articles when you aren’t handing out Ds and Fs every week.

Overall Grade: A

What grade would you give the Steelers? Would any of the above grades be different? Let us know in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Seattle Seahawks in Week 17 on Sunday.