An Updated Look at the 2022-2023 Pittsburgh Steelers

The 2022 NFL season is formally underway with season-opening games concluded and in Pittsburgh a new era has started. With Ben Roethlisberger in comprehensive retirement, the Mitch Trubisky-led offense is in complete swing.

Possessing gained the starting off quarterback work beating out rookie Kenny Pickett and last year’s backup, Mason Rudolph, Trubisky who was the moment a starter in Chicago is a starter once again though sporting the Black and Gold shades.

Pittsburgh opened the time in Cincinnati and were being underdogs to the defending AFC winner Bengals. By winning in extra time in what turned out to be a topsy-turvy sport that resembled a heavyweight boxing match, the final solid punch that landed gained the struggle. Missed PATs and area objectives by both groups led the sport into an further frame the place Chris Boswell lastly managed to nail a recreation-profitable field objective as time in the additional time interval was running out.

Though Steelers fans had been hoping to see a “new look” offense from Trubisky and his device, it was Pittsburgh’s protection that stole the clearly show. Storming out of the locker space, T.J. Watt and enterprise looked like a playoff-prepared unit as they dominated Joe Burrow and his offense practically from start out to complete. Unfortunately, Watt received hurt in the activity and his status is up in the air but it seems he will be out for at least a couple weeks.

Continue to, it wasn’t just Watt that shined. 1 of my favored acquisitions in the off-period was that of previous Jacksonville Jaguar Myles Jack. I believe that he is likely to be a important issue on protection and in 7 days a person he proved me right. Jack was second on the staff in tackles with 10 including six solo takedowns. Jack also defended just one pass and had one particular tackle for a decline.

Minkah Fitzpatrick acquired the Steelers on the board early with a decide on-six and then completed the sport with 14 tackles to lead the team 10 of those people on his very own. But all round, the defense was superb. The mighty ‘D arrived at Joe Burrow in the backfield 7 moments forcing the Bengals’ QB into throwing 4 interceptions and fumbling twice dropping just one of people unfastened balls.

Credit rating to Joe Burrow for finding his team back again into the recreation in the next 50 percent and having the activity gained with just two seconds still left in regulation when he hit Ja’Marr chase with a landing go that tied the match at 20 and all it would just take was an Evan McPherson PAT but the try was blocked. That sent the video game into time beyond regulation.

Cincinnati experienced a possibility to gain the video game in OT but the ordinarily reliable McPherson unbelievably missed a 29-yard chip shot. The Steelers would get that very same likelihood with just 2:27 still left in the additional time period of time and Boswell who also is a clutch kicker just scarcely skipped the game-winner as his 55-yard endeavor strike the upright on the field goal publish.

Following the Steelers defense held the Bengals in look at, Trubisky who was not having an impressive debut outing for Pittsburgh at last put an amazing stable push jointly and drove the Steelers’ offense downfield starting off at his individual 20 and ending on Cincinnati’s 35-property line where Boswell nailed a 53-lawn activity-winner to stun the Bengals.

With the Baltimore Ravens and Bengals favored finishing 1-2 in the AFC North, after a single match the Steelers are sharing the major location with Baltimore and the Cleveland Browns each victories in their respective time openers. Subsequent up for Pittsburgh are the New England Patriots who will not present the caliber of staff Pittsburgh has had to confront in previous meetings with the Pats who fundamentally have owned the Steelers.

As for Trubisky, with 16 games left in the typical season, the problem now is how extensive can he stay a starter? In Cincinnati, the former Bear and Payments quarterback threw 38 passes and accomplished just 21 for only 194 yards though his QB score was a disappointing 78.2. On the constructive side, Trubisky did not throw an interception and was sacked just the moment. The offensive line was the biggest issue on offense heading into the season but that device held up alternatively properly far better than expected. Having said that, Pittsburgh’s functioning Should enhance if they system on reaching the publish-season or successful extra video games. In the season opener, it was Chase Claypool who experienced the most speeding yards with 36 although starter Nmajee Harris was nursing a bum foot and could only deal with 23 yards on 10 carries.

Kenny Pickett will hold out patiently in the wings but think me, if Trubisky doesn’t commence padding his stats, Steelers Country will start out calling for the rookie to become the starter. There is no question that a single working day the former College of Pittsburgh Panthers’ quarterback will be the following franchise quarterback as extensive as he can show that the means is there to grow to be a complete-time starter. A single trouble is that Mike Tomlin named Trubisky as a staff captain so it would be hard to inform a captain he has to ride the bench.

The base line below is that the Steelers aren’t likely to be pushovers and they seem to be coming into the 2022 period with a chip on their shoulder and some critical mindset. They must rival all a few other teams in the division and as it has been the norm for decades, drive their opponents to the restrict.