While the Pittsburgh Steelers found a way to win against the Falcons, it doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in the team as they prepare to take on the defending AFC champions in the Patriots. Atlanta isn't exactly an elite team, and Cooper Rush had a horrible showing, which propelled Pittsburgh to a win.
Week two is shaping up to be a different story. While the Patriots are coming off a week one loss, they kept it close against the defending Super Bowl champions. They have plenty of questions as well, but expecting them to just roll over is dangerous.
There seem to be some prevailing questions lingering in Pittsburgh right now. Win, lose, or draw, the Steelers will need to get answers to these questions this week.
Three burning questions the Pittsburgh Steelers need to answer against the Patriots
Can DK Metcalf rebound (both short- and long-term)?
Probably the single biggest loser from the Steelers' victory over the Falcons, it feels like DK Metcalf was more of a liability than a weapon. His four receptions for 40 yards were lackluster, but the real issue was the plays he left on the table.
Multiple penalties and crucial drops limited his effectiveness. For a big-play threat, it is frustrating to see him drop most of his big-play opportunities. Metcalf has been doing most of his damage as a hybrid possession receiver, which isn't his game.
More than likely, the Patriots will stack the box and dare Pittsburgh to attack them deep. Metcalf needs to make them pay for that. You can't justify his level of pay with how he looked against the Falcons.
Can the Steelers force another sloppy day from Drake Maye?
It feels like a key to the Steelers winning against the Patriots will be dependent on their ability to take the ball away again this week. While not a staple of the Patrick Graham defense, they certainly did well to force Atlanta into a few bad plays, which resulted in turnovers.
Drake Maye isn't Cooper Rush, though, and while he threw three interceptions in Week 1, he may be more cautious in Week 2. It doesn't have to be an interception; a strip sack could be just as impactful for the defense.
However, if the Patriots clean up their mistakes, it could lead to a long day for the Steelers. One or two mistakes feel like a necessity if Pittsburgh wants to pull off the upset this week.
Can the running game be effective?
The Steelers want to rely on the running game. With a veteran quarterback who is extremely limited at this point in his career, having a ground attack that is at least effective is vital for the offensive gameplan going as planned.
The running game wasn't effective at all last Sunday. Despite a late game surge from Jaylen Warren, the rest of the game was far too quiet from the Steelers' lead backs. Rico Dowdle posted a miserable stat line while Warren chipped in in multiple areas.
Part of the issue was the line, and the Falcons certainly kept the defense close to the line to prevent the run game from being effective, but with a run success rate of only about 30%, it was an ugly showing. The Steelers need to show that Week 1 was a fluke and not the standard moving forward.
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