The NFL regular season upon us, the Steelers will have to answer these five questions when they take on the Bills in Week 1.
The beginning of an NFL season is important for every franchise. No matter the previous record or offseason assumptions, every team has a shot to establish itself as a contender.
While the first game is never a “make or break” for a season, it sets a tone for the remainder of the games. Likewise, it can help to answer some burning questions that may surround the team heading into the new year.
With that said, here are five questions the Pittsburgh Steelers must answer in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills.
Can Steelers count on James Pierre?
One of the biggest offseason winners was James Pierre.
The former undrafted cornerback entered camp with high expectations, and he didn’t disappoint. On a daily basis, reports would surface that Pierre was making a key stop or creating a turnover for the defense. Now, the expectations are that he will take on a key role on the defense, even with the addition of Ahkello Witherspoon to the defensive backs room.
Pierre will certainly have a tall task ahead of him, as the Bills have one of the best passing attacks in the league. He will have some support behind him, as both Joe Haden and Cameron Sutton have proven to be quality NFL corners, but at the end of the day, Pierre will have to put together all of his praises in camp and translate them into solid defensive plays.
He has the ability, but he needs to prove that he can legitimately stick as a defensive contributor.
How does Steelers offensive line hold up?
One of the biggest roster concerns all offseason was the Steelers offensive line, and heading into the season, there is little reason to believe this group will be a top unit in the NFL.
The team is only returning one starter, Chukwuma Okorafor, and he was the worst starter on a relatively average offensive line a year ago. Kevin Dotson, a rookie last year, has serious upside as an elite guard, but the rest of the unit leaves a lot to be desired.
Trai Turner was once a top guard, but injuries have set him back. While he was a necessary signing at the time, he struggled in camp and has left the team with some serious questions at their other guard spot.
The remainder of the line is made up of mid-round rookies. Kendrick Green is raw as a center, but the expectation was for him to start due to the lack of other center options. On the flip side, most expected little playing time for Dan Moore, but injuries and a great camp from him have thrust him into the starting left tackle role for now. That said, expect the typical rookie struggles for both of these players.
While the Bills don’t have an elite defensive line, they have some notable pass-rushers and more importantly, some savvy veterans. Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison have both been getting after the quarterback for years, and Star Lotulelei can overpower Green based on his size.
This group will have its lumps; no one should expect perfection right now, but this group needs to still hold up. If not, expect a long day for this offense.
Can Steelers slow down Josh Allen?
One of the brightest stars in the league last season was Josh Allen. He finally put together a full season of elite play, and now he is in contention of being the second-best quarterback in the league. He has a cannon for an arm, great athleticism, and one of the best receivers in the league in Stefon Diggs.
Allen will play well against the Steelers, but it is up to their defense to limit him as much as they can.
While the Bills running game still has a lot of questions, the focus has to be on getting after Allen and forcing him to make some errant throws. His worst trait as a quarterback is his accuracy, so forcing rushed plays could lead to a critical turnover or two. Even when Allen makes a big play, having a drive get cut short by a costly error can keep the game in the Steelers’ control.
Again, the goal isn’t to shut down Allen. That likely isn’t possible, but limiting him, on the other hand, is well within the Steelers reason. If he goes off for a huge game, the Steelers offense won’t be able to keep up. This defense has to prove that they are still an elite group despite the offseason losses.
It won’t be east with a quarterback like Allen, but the team has to find a way to keep him limited in this game.
How does Steelers rookie Najee Harris look?
While the expectations for rookie Najee Harris are high (as they should, given his first-round status as a running back), the first game of the season is an opportunity to prove his worth for the team.
As mentioned before, the Steelers’ offensive line is lacking and full of questions right now. This means that Harris will have to produce on his own as opposed to relying on elite line play. He has the talent to do it, but it won’t be easy.
Benefiting him is the Bills’ run defense. It’s middle of the road mostly, so Harris should be able to create some additional yards on his own. That won’t be enough, though. In what will likely be a high-scoring game, Harris will have to find a way to be one of the offensive standouts no matter what the offensive line does. Short-yard conversions, big plays, and a score or two are the expectation for him, not the best-case scenario.
As well, expect to see Harris be active in the passing game as a receiver. With the line possibly concaving on itself, short and quick passes may still be a necessity. If that’s the case, Harris could quickly become a reliable check-down option for the Steelers. Add in some solid runs and there would be little question as to how successful his debut was.
He will have to do a lot on his own as a runner, but Harris needs to look dominant in this first game.
What is T.J. Watt’s role with the Steelers?
One of the hottest storylines with the Steelers this offseason was the potential new deal for edge rusher T.J. Watt.
The fourth-year veteran has earned it, as he has turned into one of the league’s best defensive players and most potent pass-rushers. While he was active in training during camp, he didn’t participate in drills to protect himself until a long-term deal is reached. With the first game of the season just around the corner, one has to wonder what his role on the defense will be.
Now, to be clear, a deal can and should still be expected for Watt. The team has a history of getting these deals done late in the offseason, with some as late as on the flight to the Week 1 game.
However, Watt has had limited practices with the team in camp. He may not be ready to play a full workload for the Steelers by Week 1. Unless reports come out that he is back and practicing this week, there is a real chance Watt is limited against Buffalo.
While Melvin Ingram and Alex Highsmith are fine edge rushers, both pale in comparison to Watt. The team needs to get this contract out of the way sooner than later, and Watt needs to see the field against the Bills. If the team wants any shot at being competitive against a talented playoff team like Buffalo, Watt has to have a role.
Even if he plays on a rotational basis due to his limited camp reps, Watt needs to be on the field by next Sunday.
The Steelers have had an up and down offseason, and it has all culminated into this first game of the season. The team certainly has a few questions to answer in Week 1, and more than likely they will aid in determining the final outcome of the game. These five questions will all have to be answered by the time the Steelers’ game against the Bills ends.