Following every Pittsburgh Steelers game, Travis Newton takes a no-holds-barred, unabashed look at what went well, not so good, and just plain ugly. Here is this week’s edition of the “Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”

After dropping two games in a row it is clear that the strength of schedule has caught up to this Pittsburgh Steelers team. The defense that was once the backbone of the team is now decimated by injuries and was exposed by the Buffalo Bills in the Sunday Night showcase.

Adding fuel to the fire, Pittsburgh’s offense has become facile in recent weeks and is in desperate need of a jumpstart. Jordan Berry punted the ball eight times Sunday as a result of a lacking run game and the simple fact that Ben Roethlisberger is struggling to generate any downfield production at the age of 38. Defenses have keyed in on the short passing game and it has shown in the boxscore the past two weeks.

A thing of beauty!

Watch #PITvsBUF: https://t.co/fkKSw1378x | #ProBowlVote | @_BigBen7 | @JamesWashington pic.twitter.com/1fxA9Iq2Vl

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 14, 2020

The Good

Washington Touchdown Reception

Steelers Ball: 2nd Quarter 8:26 – 1st-and-10 BUF 19

After a myriad of dropped passes in the previous week, Mike Tomlin threatened that any further failures to catch routine passes would result in some time on the bench. Tomlin didn’t bluff, benching star wideout Diontae Johnson after several drops in the First Quarter. However, the benching opened up a spot on the field for James Washington who capitalized on his opportunity, scoring the first touchdown of the game.

Washington and JuJu Smith-Schuster lined up in a bunch alignment just inside the redzone. Washington fooled the two-deep safety who was expecting the corner route when he planted his foot and headed toward the middle of the field on a post. Roethlisberger squeezed in a perfect pass between both safeties and found Washington in the end zone for six.

Give it up for former @weberstatefb star Taron Johnson @Taronj11 with the pick-6 for the @BuffaloBills! That's Johnson's first career TD and second career interception. pic.twitter.com/njgtNbYBNM

— Dana Greene (@dana_greene) December 14, 2020

The Bad

Taron Johnson Pick Six

Steelers Ball: 2nd Quarter 1:02 – 2nd-and-5 PIT 47

Following a Bills field goal with under two minutes left in the first half, Ben and the Steelers offense were looking to put points on the board before the break. Pittsburgh was moving the ball well until the hurry-up offense turned into six points for the Bills in the blink of an eye.

Cornerback Taron Johnson read the eyes of Roethlisberger telegraphing the pass from the jump. On the release, Johnson broke downfield and beat Smith-Schuster to the ball. The rest was history as Johnson went uninvaded for 51 yards to the house to give the Bills a 9-7 lead entering Halftime.

https://twitter.com/SportsParade/status/1338499224426700801

The Ugly

Diggs Touchdown Reception

Bills Ball: 3rd Quarter 10:28 – 2nd-and-9 PIT 19

An already restricted defense drew a tough matchup on Sunday having to guard the NFL’s receptions leader, Stefon Diggs. Diggs tore up the Steelers secondary throughout the game but added a touchdown to his stat line on the opening drive of the Third Quarter.

Diggs made cornerback Steven Nelson drop to the turf on a simple five-and-in route and was left wide open in the middle of the field. Josh Allen connected with him in stride, as Diggs made the catch, turned upfield, and split two defenders in route to Buffalo’s first offensive touchdown of the night.

The Pittsburgh defense was outclassed by Diggs for the majority of the game as he did his Fantasy Owners proud with 10 catches for 130 yards and a touchdown.