The Steelers are hoping to rebound after a disastrous first week of NFL action. The defense wasn’t as advertised and the offense was a shell of what many expected it to be. Things seem grim heading into a Monday Night Football showdown with the Browns.
I’m having a tough time getting a read on this game. On one hand, the Steelers looked horrible in week one while the Browns effectively shut down the Bengals. On the other, Pittsburgh usually matches up well in the AFC North, and these games always come down to the wire. Here are my four bold predictions for this game.
1. The Steelers get some help from Calvin Austin
It was a tough first week for the Steelers on the injury front, as Cameron Heyward and Diontae Johnson are both going to miss multiple weeks. That opens the door for Calvin Austin to a lot of burn despite moving forward, as he should see snaps as the third receiver for this team.
I have a feeling that he goes off this week. While his first half is quiet, Austin takes the first punt of the second quarter to the house to spark this team to salvage the day. He showcases his ability to make guys miss as well as his speed to find the endzone.
That isn’t his lone trip to the endzone either. While Austin puts up a respectable 55 yards through the air, including a 32-yard bomb, he finds the end zone a second time on the ground. He compiles 64 yards rushing, with 52 of those yards coming on a carry out of the backfield.
In total, Austin compiles over 100 total yards and scores twice. His impact is one of the main reasons that the Steelers remain competitive in this game, as he provides the spark with some big plays.
2. The Steelers edge rushers show up
One of the lone bright spots of the Steelers in week one was the production they got out of their edge rushers. T.J. Watt was his usual self and racked up an impressive three sacks. He appears to already be in midseason form and is a force to be reckoned with.
Opposite of him is Alex Highsmith, who is also coming off a strong game. While he didn’t get the sacks that Watt did, Highsmith was a consistent force off the edge and also graded out well in run defense. He goes up against a familiar rival in Jedrick Wills.
This is a battle that has more often than not been won by Highsmith. Add in Wills rough start to the season and I think Highsmith gets home a few times. Watt will primarily see rookie Dawand Jones, who has been hyped up after a decent debut in week one. His rare size and length could be an issue, but Watt has the tools to get the better of him.
While the interior of the Steelers defensive line is a notable weakness, and I am nervous about how that holds up against Nick Chubb, I think the edge rushers get things done when called upon. Highsmith gets 2.5 sacks while Watt totals another 2 in his second game. Ultimately, the Steelers pass rushers outplay the Browns tackles this week.
3. Pickett continues to struggle for the Steelers
As you will see in my final prediction, I imagine this game working a certain way. That said, I do think that Kenny Pickett continues to struggle as the starter. His week one was miserable, as the issues he had as a rookie continued to rear their head. Despite a strong offseason, Pickett looked like the lackluster player that plagued this team in the first half of last season.
While this game isn’t a blowout like week one was, I think that will not be because of Pickett. The accuracy continues to be an issue, as Pickett can’t seem to get the ball to his receivers well. He also struggles to go through his reads, as he has proven to do in the past.
While his struggles lead to a pair of ugly turnovers in the first half, he progresses a little in the second half. No, he doesn’t suddenly start playing well, but the scheme and focus of the team changes. The focus is less on the passing game, which limits the amount of damage that Pickett can do.
I just don’t see a rebound happening this week for Pickett. The Browns defense looked good in week one and he has yet to show me the traits that are needed for him to be a dynamic quarterback. I’m not hopeful that he rebounds, and despite a closer game, Pickett continues to be a problem for Pittsburgh.
4. The Steelers play a tale of two halves
The Steelers spent the entire offseason building an offense that can focus on running the ball and limiting the possession of the opposition. This made a lot of sense, as the team boasts two strong running backs that should be the focus of the offense, especially considering the aforementioned struggles of Pickett.
Instead of following this game plan, the Steelers rolled out their peak, horrible 2022 offense featuring short passes and consistent plays. The results were as expected, as the team failed to mount drives and did little to remain competitive.
One would think the first area of focus to change things is to go back to the game plan. I don’t think so, unfortunately, and the Steelers pay the price for it early in the game. The focus is on the passing game, which leads to two ugly interceptions and an early 10-0 deficit. As was highlighted in this post, the play of Austin is what sparks a comeback.
As well, the offense settles into what they had built around. Najee Harris turns into a bell-cow in the second half, registering 14 carries. Jaylen Warren isn’t absent either, chipping in another 6 caries to slow the game down and play ball control. It works, and the Steelers edge out a win despite a slow start.
Ideally, the Steelers find a way to rebound after a poor start in week one. That said, I think this team takes some time to get going, as the issues they have don’t disappear this week. Keep these bold predictions in mind as the Steelers take on the Browns this Monday.