Mike Tomlin wanted nothing to do with heaping praise on Chase Claypool. That came from just about everybody else Sunday night after Claypool's four-touchdown performance in the Steelers' 38-29 win against the Philadelphia Eagles, which pushed their record to 4-0 for the first time since 1979 when they won their fourth Super Bowl of the 1970s. Claypool was all over the national highlights shows. His four touchdowns broke Franco Harris' franchise record of three for a rookie set in 1972 and were the most since Roy Jefferson had four against the Atlanta Falcons in 1968.
But Tomlin did say plenty about the Steelers offense, which scored on five consecutive possessions and finished with at least 30 points for the first time since late in the 2018 season. One comment stood out:
"The strength of our pack is the pack."
Tomlin went on to say Claypool was able to have his big day, which included seven catches for 110 yards and three touchdowns and a 2-yard touchdown run on a sweep, because the Eagles had to cope with too many other members of Ben Roethlisberger's supporting cast.
"We've just got a well-balanced attack," Tomlin said. "That's the strength of having a deep group with guys who are capable of making plays.
"(Claypool) had a good matchup this week. He was just going to be the guy today. don't want to make it out to be something more than it is. It was his turn today based on a lot of things. He was able to deliver."
The Steelers offense broke out in a big way on a day when arguably their best receiver, Diontae Johnson, and All-Pro guard David DeCastro left early with injuries. If there is anything to be concerned about as the team begins preparations for Sunday's home game against the Cleveland Browns, other than the way the Eagles sliced the Steelers defense by converting 10 of 14 third downs, it's that Tomlin did not sound overly optimistic about the availability of DeCastro (abdomen) and Maurkice Pouncey (foot), who left the game late.
The Steelers won because they had even more success than the Eagles on third down, converting 11 of 15 chances. They easily could have scored on seven consecutive possessions if not for a close review that wiped out a 33-yard sideline catch by Claypool to the Eagles 36 in the third quarter and then, on the next drive, a cheap offensive pass interference penalty against Claypool on what would have been a 42-yard touchdown catch.
Was it just me, or did the Steelers offense look a lot like Pitt's offense in 2016 when Pitt had its best offense in years?
Matt Canada was fabulous as Pitt's offensive coordinator that season. He is now in his first season as Roethlisberger's quarterbacks coach. It's no coincidence that the Steelers brought wide receivers in motion on several plays, giving the ball to them at times and faking it to them other times. Claypool scored his first touchdown on that end sweep. James Conner had a 25-yard run after Claypool came in motion past Roethlisberger. Ray-Ray McCloud had a 58-yard run off a reverse behind a nice block by Vance McDonald to start the third quarter.
"We're just trying to move the ball around and make everybody defend the entire field, both vertically and horizontally." Tomlin said. "That's just a component of our attack. We thrive to be diverse, to keep people off-balance."
Two plays stood out for their creativity:
Claypool scored easily on a 5-yard screen pass early in the third quarter after lining up in a bunch formation to the left with McDonald, Conner and Trey Edmunds. James Washington converted a third-and-4 play with an 8-yard gain on a screen after Claypool came in motion to join him and JuJu Smith-Schuster on the right side of the formation.
"We definitely have some new things in this offense that I'm not as familiar with," Roethlisberger said. "But I feel like I get us into the right play most of the time."
It still figures to get better for the Steelers offense. Roethlisberger again was mostly self-deprecating despite completing 27 of 34 passes for 239 yards and the three touchdowns to Claypool. For the season, he has thrown for 10 touchdowns with just one interception. His passer rating is a stellar 110.4
"I'm still missing the deep ball too much, still overthrowing," Roethlisberger said. "I've got to figure out how to connect on those deep balls a little more."
All that mattered to Roethlisberger, though, was the way the game ended _ with him taking a knee in the victory formation.
"That's always the best play in football," Roethlisberger said with a satisfied smile.
