Sitting at 1-1 through two games, the Steelers could view this as a positive or a negative. On the one hand, the team had high hopes entering the year and hasn't quite lived up to expectations, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. On the other hand, the offense has been anemic thus far, and the team has seen both Diontae Johnson and Cameron Heyward suffer injuries, yet they have managed to muster a 1-1 start, including a divisional record.
Say what you will about where they are at right now, but at 1-1, the Steelers can erase this discussion with strong play and a victory Sunday night in Las Vegas, as a victory would put the team above .500 and could help the team start clicking offensively. However, there are several questions that the Steelers must answer if they would like to defeat the Raiders.
3. Can the Steelers stop the run?
While this was a question entering the season for the Steelers, the team has seen both the 49ers and Browns have significant success running the ball in the first two weeks, and the loss of Cameron Heyward has not helped the Steelers in this category. While these two teams do post two of the most potent rushing attacks in the NFL, Cleveland did lose Nick Chubb to injury, and Jerome Ford was able to pick up a massive touchdown run in his stead.
While the schedule has been tough for the Steelers thus far in stopping the run, this week won't get too much easier as they will yet again face one of the league's premiere talents at the running back position, Josh Jacobs. While Jacobs has had a slow start to the season, that was to be expected as he held out for much of Training Camp and all of preseason due to a contract dispute. However, a juicy matchup against the Steelers could be exactly what the reigning rushing leader needs to get right back on track in a contract year.
Similar to Chubb, Jacobs thrives on runs through the teeth of the defense, so the Steelers will need their inside linebackers, as well as Larry Ogunjobi and Montravius Adams, among others, to step up. Ogunjobi had arguably his strongest game as a Steeler last week, and the team will need him to continue to play at a high level to help fill Heyward's void.
If the Steelers can shut down or limit the running game, that will make the Raiders one-dimensional, and would give the Steelers a huge advantage with their pass rush being able to attempt to take advantage of the game. The more often the Steelers get to send T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith after the quarterback, the better, as that is the strength of this defense, and whether they get home or not, they can wreck a game for opposing quarterbacks.