Will Steelers bounce back against a brutal schedule before it’s too late?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are off to a 1-2 start. Can Mike Tomlin’s team bounce back before it’s too late, or will a brutal stretch of games do them in this year? 

The Pittsburgh Steelers, without question, are in a clear slump due to back-to-back losses to the New England Patriots (17-14) in their season home opener and to their little brothers in the AFC North division the Cleveland Browns (29-17) this past Thursday on the road in FirstEnergy Stadium (Cleveland, Ohio). With major questions surrounding the offense and now surrounding the run defense, the Steelers are on paper in deep trouble as their season is only going to get tougher based on their upcoming schedule.

Their next five opponents are tough as nails as they are preparing to face the New York Jets this Sunday at home — a game in which they are currently favored by 3 points, according to Fanduel Sportsbook. They will look to bounce back after being on a two-game losing streak and secure their first home win of the season.

After that, their schedule is going to be what many people will call their “toughest stretch” of the season as they will travel on the road to face both the Buffalo Bills (10/09), back home to face Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10/16), they travel to Miami to face Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins (10/23), and they finish their road trip on October 30th (Halloween Eve) when they face the Philadelphia Eagles in Lincoln Financial Field before traveling back home to host both the New Orleans Saints (11/13) and the Cincinnati Bengals (11/20).

Can the Steelers weather the storm despite a poor start?

Even though it may not look like it due to all the rumors of controversy going on in the locker room on the offensive side of the ball, there is some good news for many Steeler fans who still have faith in their team this season.

The Steelers have been beating themselves these past two weeks and nearly beat themselves in Week 1 of the season. Without question, they should be 3-0 but instead are sitting here 1-2 due to careless and repetitive mistakes by the offense, along with the careless play calling by the Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada that leads to them losing games they have no business losing.

For example, the past two losses to the New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns.

Pittsburgh’s mistakes are more fixable than many think, the one thing they can do is to open the playbook more as a mobile quarterback is under center and trust their offensive line. The offensive line has been playing extremely well so far this season by exceeding expectations to protect Tribusky, along with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.

Another needed change is to get fullback Derek Watt more involved in both the pass and run block as he is one of the best in the league at doing so. This would benefit the pass and run game by taking the pressure off of both backs Harris and Warren and allowing the field to get open more to push the ball downfield in the passing game.

This strategy will keep your defense, who right now leads the league in the most snaps taken so far this season (194 snaps), off the field for a good amount of time and give them time to take their breath and get ready for the next drive. This will allow them to play to the level of football that we all know they are capable of doing with or without star linebacker T.J Watt in the lineup.

Mike Tomlin’s record as an underdog has hung with the best of them as he holds a record of 46-26 when his team is labeled as the underdogs via Walter Football.com and in this upcoming matchup, they are. With the way their next opponents are looking both on paper and film, the Steelers will continue to be the underdogs at least until their matchup against the Saints at home in November.

Mike Tomlin’s record in October games also speaks for itself. He now holds a record of 38-15 in games in October. If you know what many will call the “Tomlin Special” then you know the one thing Steelers will do is play up to their competition and find a way to win games they’re not supposed to be based on predictions.

As questions still remain around the Steel City, don’t be surprised Yinzers if your  Steelers hit that floor of 4-4 by November or what could be their ceiling of 6-2 achieving the “impossible” can happen, especially in the NFL where any team can be beaten on any given day.

Don’t lose hope just yet Yinzers, as times like this can indefinitely cause you to. It’s a long season with a lot of football still left to play and knowing that we have a Mike Tomlin-led team, it’s not over until it’s over.