5 toughest quarterbacks Pittsburgh Steelers will face in 2022
By Brendan Howe
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a tricky quarterback schedule in 2022. Here are the five best signal-callers they will face this year.
For nearly two decades, the Pittsburgh Steelers entered the majority of their matchups with a quarterback capable of dueling with any counterpart. Even as Ben Roethlisberger experienced a drop-off in terms of ability over the last few seasons, the Steelers went into each week knowing they had a seasoned franchise pillar operating their offense.
They can’t even say that anymore, as the starting spot is up for grabs. The same can’t be said for a good deal of the Steelers opponents this year. Let’s take a look at five of the best passers Pittsburgh will have to go up against this fall.
Steelers will face Lamar Jackson twice
The Steelers will be tasked with containing 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson twice in less than a month’s time on the back stretch of the schedule. While he hasn’t enjoyed the most success in this rivalry, having posted a 2-3 career record, he only got one crack at Pittsburgh in 2021.
In that narrow 20-19 Steelers triumph, the Steelers’ defensive front had its way with Jackson, getting to him for seven sacks, more than any other club he played a year ago. Baltimore fell just short after failing on a two-point conversion in the final seconds.
The Ravens’ quarterback led the team on the ground that day – and the whole campaign, for that matter. Assumed starter J.K. Dobbins was sidelined for the entirety of the schedule in the preseason, and Baltimore tried replacing his production with a mish-mash of names from the past.
That group included Devonta Freeman, Latavius Murray, and Le’Veon Bell – none of whom averaged more than 36 yards a contest.
If the Ravens prove to have gotten Jackson the right help – meaning that he won’t have to carry the attack and do it all himself – he’ll remind Pittsburgh why he’s such a force to begin with.