No matter the outcome, the Steelers will leave the field after their Week 7 matchup against the Jets with a winning record. There is a fine line between a 4-3 record and one that sits at 5-2. Pittsburgh needs to win this game against a Jets team in disarray. Nothing about this matchup seems good for the black and gold as their defense will have a monumental task to overcome.
Aaron Rodgers will be the main catalyst for why the defense gets exposed in Week 7. One must imagine that the Steeler's struggles against veteran quarterbacks during the early portion of the season will likely carry over into this contest. It seems like the more years that a quarterback has no matter their talent level, they can dissect Pittsburgh's defense much easier.
Not having a firm answer at quarterback for the Steelers could only inflate the problem for the defense. They are going to need their offensive counterparts to help them in this game. New York might have their flaws, but they also have a ton of firepower. There are going to be poor matchups for the black and gold in this game, and it is going to require those weaknesses to lessen the damage.
Expect Rodgers to torch the Steelers secondary and score tons of points
When you look at the different veteran quarterbacks the Steelers have gone up against this year, they have shown signs of struggle. Justin Herbert was their first test of the season, but the young quarterback was playing on one leg. He was efficient throughout his time playing before he was pulled from the game. He could have led the Chargers to a win if he was healthy enough to play.
Joe Flacco was an unexpected matchup for the Steelers, but he played for most of the game when Pittsburgh faced the Colts. He is a backup now, but the veteran quarterback was on time and accurate throughout the contest. Flacco was someone the defense should've rattled, but he picked them apart. If Flacco can do what he did, how can the Steeler's defense stop Rodgers?
It is hard to blame the defense for losing to the Cowboys, but they didn't seal the win either. Dak Prescott put up godly numbers against the Steeler's defense even though he had a couple of turnovers. Pittsburgh's offense let the defense down in that game, but Dallas was able to move the ball rather effectively for most of the game. Rodgers could lead a comeback at any point.
None of the quarterbacks the Steelers have faced were at the quality of Rodgers. Yes, he is off to a poor start to the season and he is old, but he still has his smarts and strong arm. Pittsburgh has a handful of weaknesses on their defense despite some great players on that side of the ball. Expect Rodgers to challenge them early and often with the plethora of weapons he has with the Jets.