Steelers vs. Raiders: Winners and losers from week 2 loss

Steelers loser: Ben Roethlisberger

From week one to week two, the Steelers as a team were properly exposed. When this defense is playing at an elite level, they can beat anyone in the league no matter what their offense is doing.

When the defense falters or is as injured as they were this week, their offense can’t do enough to win this team any games. The offense is unfortunately consistent; they are slow, uninventive, and ineffective.

While there are issues all over the place, Ben Roethlisberger is one of the main problems. While the veteran isn’t playing horrible football, he is playing far too reserved, and when he does try to push the ball, he looks his age. Outside of his deep completion to Chase Claypool, which was a perfectly placed ball, his deep passes were off the mark or poorly timed.

As well, he was even baited a couple of times into almost disastrous throws. These are decisions that a quarterback his age has to avoid. Yes, his line has done him little favors, but that, unfortunately, has to be the expectation at this point, as there are few ways this group improves in the near future.

Roethlisberger doesn’t look like a disaster by any means, but his play has led to this offense remaining stagnant and slow through the first two weeks.