The Steelers ran the ball effectively under Arthur Smith’s game plan in the first half last week. He explained Thursday why he abandoned it in the second half. Pittsburgh recorded just three carries after halftime despite moving the ball effectively through two quarters.
The Steelers possessed the ball six times in the second half, going three-and-out or worse four times. They opened the second half with an incomplete pass on first down followed by a two-yard pass on second down. The third-down play was the uncalled offside penalty that Aaron Rodgers cited as damaging their momentum.