The Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense didn’t play great in Week 1, surrendering 32 points, 394 total yards and 23 first downs to the New York Jets while notching only one sack. However, that wasn’t Jalen Ramsey’s fault.
The star cornerback lived up to the hype in his Steelers debut, turning in an impressive performance. According to Pro Football Focus, he finished the game with an 87.5 coverage grade on 24 coverage snaps, allowing just six receiving yards and forcing two incompletions (both on the Jets’ final drive). He also played every position in the secondary in the same game for the first time in his career, showcasing his versatility and helping Pittsburgh beat the Jets 34-32.
That’s exactly the type of impact the Steelers were looking for when they acquired him from the Miami Dolphins this summer. Pittsburgh’s defense struggled mightily against the pass last year, ranking 25th in passing yards allowed.
Given Ramsey’s age (30) and the fact that he didn’t make the Pro Bowl last year for the first time since 2016, some were worried that he was in decline. However, he immediately silenced the critics with his stifling coverage in Week 1, proving he’s still one of the league’s best cornerbacks and a top-tier defender.
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Perhaps he simply needed a change of scenery, especially considering how quickly things have gone south for the Dolphins. Either way, he appeared rejuvenated in Week 1 after a relatively disappointing 2024.
Ramsey will try to keep it up in the Steelers’ home opener this weekend against the Seattle Seahawks, who struggled offensively in Sam Darnold’s Seahawks debut last week. They scored just 13 points (24th in NFL) and managed only 146 passing yards (25th in NFL), potentially teeing up Ramsey for another dominant showing.
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Featured image via Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images