An Updated Look at the 2022-2023 Pittsburgh Steelers

The 2022 NFL period is officially underway with season-opening online games concluded and in Pittsburgh a new era has started. With Ben Roethlisberger in whole retirement, the Mitch Trubisky-led offense is in entire swing.

Getting received the commencing quarterback position beating out rookie Kenny Pickett and last year’s backup, Mason Rudolph, Trubisky who was once a starter in Chicago is a starter once more whilst sporting the Black and Gold colours.

Pittsburgh opened the season in Cincinnati and were being underdogs to the defending AFC champion Bengals. By successful in overtime in what turned out to be a topsy-turvy sport that resembled a heavyweight boxing match, the past good punch that landed received the struggle. Missed PATs and industry goals by both equally teams led the game into an further body exactly where Chris Boswell eventually managed to nail a activity-profitable area target as time in the additional time period was operating out.

When Steelers enthusiasts were being hoping to see a “new look” offense from Trubisky and his unit, it was Pittsburgh’s defense that stole the clearly show. Storming out of the locker space, T.J. Watt and company looked like a playoff-prepared device as they dominated Joe Burrow and his offense approximately from start off to end. Regretably, Watt received harm in the recreation and his status is up in the air but it seems he will be out for at least a few weeks.

Even now, it wasn’t just Watt that shined. A single of my most loved acquisitions in the off-year was that of former Jacksonville Jaguar Myles Jack. I believe that he is going to be a main issue on protection and in week just one he proved me appropriate. Jack was second on the staff in tackles with 10 like six solo takedowns. Jack also defended one particular go and had 1 tackle for a decline.

Minkah Fitzpatrick acquired the Steelers on the board early with a select-six and then concluded the match with 14 tackles to guide the workforce 10 of individuals on his very own. But over-all, the protection was outstanding. The mighty ‘D reached Joe Burrow in the backfield 7 instances forcing the Bengals’ QB into throwing four interceptions and fumbling twice dropping a person of these unfastened balls.

Credit to Joe Burrow for getting his crew back again into the game in the 2nd fifty percent and having the recreation won with just two seconds left in regulation when he strike Ja’Marr chase with a touchdown go that tied the video game at 20 and all it would just take was an Evan McPherson PAT but the endeavor was blocked. That despatched the recreation into extra time.

Cincinnati had a probability to earn the game in OT but the ordinarily reputable McPherson exceptionally skipped a 29-yard chip shot. The Steelers would get that same chance with just 2:27 still left in the time beyond regulation interval and Boswell who also is a clutch kicker just hardly skipped the game-winner as his 55-garden endeavor strike the upright on the subject goal article.

Soon after the Steelers protection held the Bengals in verify, Trubisky who was not acquiring an amazing debut outing for Pittsburgh ultimately place an impressive reliable travel jointly and drove the Steelers’ offense downfield beginning at his personal 20 and finishing on Cincinnati’s 35-garden line where by Boswell nailed a 53-yard game-winner to stun the Bengals.

With the Baltimore Ravens and Bengals favored ending 1-2 in the AFC North, right after 1 sport the Steelers are sharing the top spot with Baltimore and the Cleveland Browns both of those victories in their respective year openers. Following up for Pittsburgh are the New England Patriots who will not present the caliber of staff Pittsburgh has had to confront in earlier meetings with the Pats who essentially have owned the Steelers.

As for Trubisky, with 16 games left in the standard time, the query now is how extended can he remain a starter? In Cincinnati, the former Bear and Expenditures quarterback threw 38 passes and concluded just 21 for only 194 yards although his QB rating was a disappointing 78.2. On the good aspect, Trubisky did not throw an interception and was sacked just once. The offensive line was the largest worry on offense heading into the period but that unit held up fairly well much better than anticipated. Nevertheless, Pittsburgh’s operating Ought to improve if they prepare on reaching the put up-time or successful much more online games. In the time opener, it was Chase Claypool who had the most dashing yards with 36 whilst starter Nmajee Harris was nursing a bum foot and could only handle 23 yards on 10 carries.

Kenny Pickett will hold out patiently in the wings but think me, if Trubisky does not commence padding his stats, Steelers Country will start out contacting for the rookie to turn out to be the starter. There is no question that 1 working day the former University of Pittsburgh Panthers’ quarterback will be the up coming franchise quarterback as prolonged as he can present that the skill is there to develop into a complete-time starter. A single dilemma is that Mike Tomlin named Trubisky as a crew captain so it would be challenging to inform a captain he has to trip the bench.

The bottom line listed here is that the Steelers aren’t heading to be pushovers and they show up to be coming into the 2022 season with a chip on their shoulder and some major frame of mind. They should really rival all three other groups in the division and as it has been the norm for many years, push their opponents to the restrict.