After opening the season with a win against the Atlanta Falcons, the Steelers’ early weaknesses were exposed by New England after a 20-3 loss Sunday afternoon.
Now, the team turns its attention to Cincinnati for the first AFC North game of the season, when the Bengals come to Acrisure Stadium Sunday afternoon.
These are the five biggest things we know about the Steelers through two games.
#1
Aaron looking for more control of the play-calling
It was what Rodgers said after the game about their struggles.
“We've got to keep taking the ownership. In a game like today where there wasn't a lot of flow to it, we need to be better, and that starts with me at making sure Mike [McCarthy] knows what's working, what's not working, our coaches know, so we can call stuff that we feel like has a better chance.”
Sounds like Rodgers wants more input into what is being called.
#2
Looking in mirror
Several suggested after the game from Mike McCarthy saying ‘it starts with him’ and to put the blame on him to being a better coach, to leaders Aaron Rodgers and Cam Heyward saying the same thing. As Rodgers put it the best led teams are by the players and it’s on them.
“We all just got to grow, every player has got to look in the mirror and say ‘I got to be better’,” Heyward said.
#3
Offensive line improvement
As critical as McCarthy has been of the offensive line noting the protections weren’t clean, Rodgers said the line wasn’t stable.
“Something got to change,” said offensive tackle Troy Fautanu. “I don’t know if we aren’t working hard enough as an offense. We aren’t working hard enough as an O-line or just not connecting well with each other. Something got to change.”
#4
Defense playing well
While Nick Herbig said it right in that it doesn’t matter because they lost, as wins and losses are the true measuring stick, the defense has played well. A couple more turnovers-an interception by Patrick Queen and a forced fumble by Herbig as the linebackers are creating havoc.
“Hats off to Herb,” said linebacker TJ Watt. “Truly a great locker room guy, a good teammate, a guy that’s continually on the rise, a guy that will do whatever he has to do to help this team win. I have a lot of respect for him and his mentality. The football gods pay those guys off. He works hard and he performs well on Sundays consistently.”
#5
Sunday is a huge game
It’s only Week 3, but Cincinnati is 2-0 and it may not be as much about the win as how the Steelers play. If they throw out another sorry performance, 1-2 might look more like 1-5.
“We got to figure it out pretty soon or this thing can get ugly,” Fautanu said.
