Steelers are running out of time to establish their new-look offense

Before anything else, I would like to congratulate our Pittsburgh Steelers for their 2-0 start. Sure, Atlanta and Denver were supposed to be on the easier side of the aisle, but with both having home-field advantage, so early on the calendar, fresh after an unfortunate Steelers preseason? Wins are wins.

Not only that but with Pittsburgh’s three AFC North rivals combining for a starting record of 1-5, it’s visibly the top dog in the division until further notice—so that makes for a pretty great feeling as well. However, with all of that said, there is one cause for concern that has refused to go away, and that is the lack of an established offense.

Throughout their two wins, the Steelers are averaging 15.5 points a game and have scored just one touchdown. With numbers like those, I have to question how much of the credit falls on Pittsburgh being good, and how much falls on the opposition being bad. What makes this such a pressing matter now is the fact that we will soon be in a position where we’re going to find out.

This upcoming Sunday will have the Steelers at home for a date with the Los Angeles Chargers, who are another unbeaten squad that has looked consistent on both sides of the ball. From there it’s the Colts (a team that’s tricky on the road and has stuck around in both losses to difficult foes), the Cowboys (whose offensive potential speaks for itself), and the Raiders (hosting AFC rivals who just beat the Ravens in Baltimore).

Steelers offense needs to start cooking

When staring at a lineup of non-stop punches like that, how am I supposed to rest assured that Chris Boswell and an only somewhat tested defense will be enough to keep the undefeated season alive? I can’t—that’s why this offense needs to get cooking... and fast.

Now optimists would perhaps argue that at least some of the offense’s limits will iron themselves out once Russell Wilson takes over, and they may. I nonetheless take issue with that stance for multiple reasons though, with the first one being that nothing is pointing to that being the case.

For starters, Justin Fields came into Pittsburgh with significant time as a starting QB under his belt, so it’s not as if he’s just some random backup, bumbling around with hardly any experience. We also saw more from him in the preseason, logically leaving Wilson all the less battle-tested (and predictable) for whenever he steps in. That’s never an ideal situation to be in, but it’s especially not with those aforementioned matchups looming overhead.

Again, being unbeaten after a pair of go-either-way road games is something you can’t help but smile at, and today’s topic wasn’t meant to sabotage that. Rather, it’s meant to do the opposite; I want the winning and smiling to keep going just as much as anyone else, but if the offense doesn’t kick into a higher gear soon, the chances of that happening will only grow slimmer.