On his first pass of the game, Mason Rudolph dared the Chicago Bears’ defense. In a moment that would sum up the day, the Bears answered. Rudolph’s heave down the left sideline to WR DK Metcalf was intercepted by CB Nahshon Wright. Beat writer Gerry Dulac, however, doesn’t put the blame on the quarterback.
“If you’re not gonna get that 50-50 ball, and when the other guy’s in front of, you make sure he doesn’t catch it,” Dulac said on 102.5 DVE Monday morning. “And that’s what he didn’t do to start the game. Mason Rudolph throws the pick, but that to me, that’s on DK Metcalf to break that up. And he didn’t do that.”
Known for pushing the ball downfield against one-on-one coverage, Rudolph turned down the swing pass in the flat to RB Jaylen Warren, one that would’ve picked up a first down, to challenge Chicago vertically. But the pass wasn’t perfect, and Metcalf was outjumped by Wright, who made a spectacular interception.
Rudolph became the first Steelers quarterback to throw an interception on his first snap since Kenny Pickett’s NFL debut in 2022 and the first starter to do so since Rudolph himself in 2019.
Wright deserves credit for making a play most cornerbacks don’t. A high school wide receiver who measures in around 6-4, Wright was uniquely ready to take on Metcalf. Also, Metcalf isn’t known as a great 50-50 receiver and is best burning cornerbacks downfield instead of outjumping them.
Later in the game, Roman Wilson avoided a similar fate by knocking the ball out of Wright’s hands for what would’ve been his second interception of the day.
While there is a coaching point for receivers to play defensive back, that’s far from the goal. Rudolph’s throw to Metcalf was too low-line and not out in front enough. It also wasn’t the right spot or time for a back-shoulder fade. If there’s any criticism of Metcalf, he needs to avoid getting pinned along the sideline by Wright.
But this is not a good ball from Rudolph, who struggled throwing downfield all game. Normally a strong and accurate vertical thrower, Rudolph only had success keeping the ball short.
Blame falls on the quarterback who is set to return to the bench following Aaron Rodgers’ return against the Buffalo Bills. Metcalf, meanwhile, is looking for his first productive game in awhile. He’s been held at or under 55 receiving yards in six-straight games with just one touchdown over that span.
