The Steelers had a rough opening week in 2019, losing badly to the Patriots right after seeing their former star wide receiver, Antonio Brown, sign with the Patriots. Things somehow got worse for Pittsburgh in Week 2.
While Brown was helping New England roll to a blowout win in Miami, the Steelers fell to 0-2 with a frustrating, 28-26 home loss to the Seahawks. That wasn't their only loss Sunday; quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (right elbow) and running back James Conner (left knee) were knocked out of the game with injuries, and Roethlisberger is done for the season.
Although the Steelers' sputtering offense got a big spark from second-year backup QB Mason Rudolph, their fourth-quarter rally wasn't good enough. Neither is the team as a whole.
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The Steelers' issues start with their defense, which was supposed to be the backbone that got them back into wild-card and AFC North contention this season. Quite simply, with all the talent they have on that side of the ball and given the upgrades they made in the offseason — led by rookie first-round inside linebacker Devin Bush — they are allowing too many big plays; a lot more than their offense is making, at least.
Against Tom Brady and the Patriots, the Steelers gave up multiple chunk pass plays, including three that went for touchdowns. They couldn't cover anything downfield and gave up too much after the catch, as well, to Phillip Dorsett, Josh Gordon and Julian Edelman.
Against Russell Wilson and the Seahawks, the Steelers gave up both a 37-yard scoring run to Rashaad Penny and a 38-yard passing TD to D.K. Metcalf that put the game out of reach in the second half. Wilson enjoyed Brady-like success in connecting on deep passes.
The Steelers won't be facing Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks and solid playoff teams every week, and yes, their strong pass rush did show up with four sacks of Wilson. Bush also showed what he can do as a rangy playmaker.
But the bottom line is winning, and the Steelers are winless. The reigning division-champion Ravens, meanwhile, are 2-0, taking full advantage of an easier opening schedule.
Now Pittsburgh is faced with a long trip to San Francisco, a 2-0 team with a much-improved defense and an offense that just delivered big plays at will against the other 0-2 team in the AFC North, Cincinnati.
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The Steelers' offense got only one shot play to JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. Seattle, and because of their defense, they have been taken out of their foundation in the running game. After two games, the team is a dismal 6-of-23 (26 percent) in converting third downs. Without Brown, no one among the No. 2 receiver committee has stepped up to provide adequate production behind Smith-Schuster.
In the short term, the availability of Conner is a huge question amid the loss of Roethlisberger. Rudolph handled himself well in limited work, and the Steelers can be OK on the ground with Jaylen Samuels and rookie Benny Snell Jr. But any kind of starter-backup combination will give Pittsburgh trouble given the high rate of scoring from the opposition.
With his team at 0-2, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has one of the hardest jobs of his career ahead of him. Since 2010, only 12 percent of teams (eight of 67) have rebounded to make the playoffs with that kind of start, and two of those rare exceptions came last season.
When the Steelers last started a season 0-2 (2013), they capped out at 8-8 and missed the playoffs. Last year they were thrown off by a 0-1-1 start with a bad tie to the Browns and a similarly tough home loss in Week 2 to the Chiefs. That opening was enough to keep the Steelers a half-game out of the second AFC wild-card spot.
The Steelers' schedule gives them a couple breaks soon after the 49ers, with the Bengals and Dolphins games coming at home. But their other games over the next seven come against the Ravens, Chargers, Colts and Rams, four more playoff teams from last season, before a trip to see the Browns.
That's why it was important for the Steelers to take care of the Seahawks at Heinz Field. Instead, they gave us additional reasons to think this season will be more of tranisitional mess.
