By: Jason Walsh II
September 20, 2023
Looking back on the 2023 NFL Preseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers got off to a hot start. Pittsburgh dominated, winning all three of their preseason games. The Steelers beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-17, the Buffalo Bills 27-15, and the Atlanta Falcons 24-0. The main theme throughout Pittsburgh’s preseason was their explosive offense.
Going into week 1 of the regular season the expectations for Pittsburgh were high, it seemed that the team secured an explosive offense to pair with their dominant defense. However, it would be a long afternoon for the Steelers. The San Francisco 49ers, a team who fell short of a Super Bowl appearance last season, came into Pittsburgh. The 49ers were dominant defensively last season, as well as offensively, led by rookie quarterback Brock Purdy. San Francisco was nothing short of that against the Steelers. The 49ers’ defense shut down the Steelers offense from the start. Brock Purdy and Brandon Aiyuk exposed the Steelers’ defense. Pittsburgh struggled on both sides of the ball all afternoon, losing the home opener 30-7.
Going into week 2, the Steelers had some issues to address. Offensive play calling, defensive secondary, and injuries. The play calling in week 1 prevented the Steelers’ offense from getting into a rhythm as well as not utilizing talent. The Steelers’ secondary was torched, giving up 220 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air. Injuries became an issue during the game for Pittsburgh, losing two starters, wide receiver Dionte Johnson, and defensive tackle Cam Heyward, both will be sidelined for multiple weeks.
This past Monday, September 18th, the Steelers faced their AFC North rival opponent, the Cleveland Browns, on Monday Night Football for week 2. As the game opened, the Steelers’ defense started out hot, intercepting Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and returning it for a touchdown on the first play of the game. However, from there it would be an odd and long first half filled with injuries and reviewed plays. The biggest story of the night came out of the first quarter, while attempting to score a touchdown Browns’ running back Nick Chubb was injured. Although it was not a typical injury, Chubb’s leg was injured on the play, and the injury was so gruesome that the networks would not show the replay. As of now, Chubb is ruled out for the
remainder of the season. After the conclusion of the first quarter, the theme of a long-drawn-out game continued. The game consisted of poor offensive play by both teams with constant clock stoppages. Throughout the game the Steelers’ defense and special teams were able to take advantage of the Browns’ offensive play, scoring two defensive touchdowns, and dominating field position. In a true rival game, it would come down to the final minutes, with the Steelers shutting down the Browns on their final drive. The Steelers won the game 26-22.
This coming Sunday, September 24th, the Steelers have another prime-time game, facing the Las Vegas Raiders (1-1) on Sunday Night Football. The Game will be broadcast on NBC at 8:20 pm.
