The Pittsburgh Steelers found a way to beat the Patriots last year on the road (albeit with five takeaways), and the hope was for a similar result this week. Instead, Pittsburgh showed their putrid side as they failed to do anything on offense.
The defense feels like the better unit, but that isn't saying much. Considering how much they are paid, you would like a stronger unit from top to bottom. Thus, the loser list feels extensive after such a crippling loss.
This was a winnable game against a team that made it to the Super Bowl last year. Instead, the Steelers looked like the worst version of themselves. Mike McCarthy and the coaching staff have a lot of issues to address in order to get this team on the right track.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a miserable ratio of winners and losers after loss to Patriots
Winner: T.J. Watt
Is T.J. Watt back? Through two weeks, it feels like the Steelers have their dominant edge rusher back on the roster. He added another handful of sacks to his resume and was once again wreaking havoc along the defensive line.
The defense, for the most part, held their own, and Watt was a big reason for that. He had a lot of questions to answer after back-to-back bad seasons, but Watt looks back to form so far this season.
Winner: Patrick Queen
Patrick Queen was clean once again this week. Most importantly, he finally gave the Steelers some splash on defense with a strong interception. He's had his best start to a season in Pittsburgh this year, and hopefully he continues to play well this year.
Loser: Aaron Rodgers
That was one of the ugliest games that Aaron Rodgers has had in a long time. From errant passes to bailing from clean enough pockets, Rodgers held the team back today. It wasn't like Rodgers had a great Week 1 either. He is starting to show his age.
Sure, we needed a better run game to assist, but Rodgers hasn't held up his side of the bargain either. You brought him back to expertly guide this offense with his veteran experience. Instead, he has been like a deer in headlights.
Loser: DK Metcalf
We're two weeks into the season, and DK Metcalf looks like a disaster for this offense. His hands have completely failed him; his concentration seems to be way off, and he isn't providing the Steelers with more than a distraction at the moment on offense.
One of the problems is the scheme. Metcalf is a premier deep threat but is forced to play in this short-passing game where he mostly runs slants. That doesn't excuse his train wreck of a game and poor start to the year. Metcalf needs to prove that he is a difference-maker.
Loser: Mike McCarthy
Let's keep the offensive train rolling! The coach who was brought in to make the offense better has utterly failed. The entire offseason was dedicated to building a top team around Rodgers so the Steelers could "compete" this year. Instead, this offense has looked as bad as it did a year ago.
It already feels like a disaster having Rodgers back for one final season. Now you are stuck with playing him; you can't see what you have in your young talent, and the offense is already failing. This feels ugly all around, and it is a bad look for the start of his tenure as Steelers head coach.
Loser: Spencer Anderson
Frankly, the entire offensive line could slot here, considering how poor the push was up front. Given the amount of investment in this unit, the lack of success is horrifying.
However, once again, the biggest culprit was Spencer Anderson. It felt like every play he was getting beat cleanly and scrambling to try and make up ground. There is more than one issue along the line right now, but he needs to be subbed out for someone different at this point.
Loser: Rico Dowdle
If I had to leave anyone off the losers list, it would probably be Dowdle. The game plan and the line have done him no favors, as defenses can play close to the line of scrimmage, and the line is generating little to no push.
However, he was brought in to be a hammer on offense. Tallying 15 carries for 37 yards rushing through two games certainly isn't that. Jaylen Warren has been the hotter hand so far and needs to continue to see the majority of snaps.
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