What we learned from Steelers' low-scoring showdown vs. Broncos

If you told me that the Pittsburgh Steelers would be undefeated after two games to start the 2024 season, I would have told you that you were 'off your rocker'. But that is exactly the situation we find ourselves in after a gritty road win against the Denver Broncos.

The win was not a 'pretty' one by any stretch of the imagination, but, as I have always said, a win is a win and I'll take the win. Saying that we have a lot to work on (particularly on offense) would be an understatement. With that in mind, let's see what we learned on the offensive side of the ball.

Steelers' offense is still a work in progress

I realize we are undefeated after two games and that both victories were road victories which is impressive in and of itself, but it is difficult for me to 'spin' the offensive performance I witnessed against the Broncos.

The Steelers' offense gained two-hundred and fifty-one yards in a four-quarter football game. We ran fifty-eight plays and averaged a little over four yards per play. More importantly, we managed to score only thirteen points.

To put this into perspective, we scored eighteen points against the Falcons the previous week. You would think that after one start under his belt, so to speak, Justin Fields would have shown a modicum of improvement.

I would argue that Fields regressed against the Broncos. Here is the stat line: Fields completed thirteen out of twenty pass attempts for one hundred and seventeen yards and one touchdown pass. That was good to see but to me, Fields just did not look comfortable at all.

Admittedly, Fields would have had a better day statistically had it not been for Broderick Jones, who was flagged multiple times, and then was subsequently benched. As an aside, the situation with Jones is untenable. His play has regressed this season despite playing pretty well at right tackle in 2023.

The bottom line is this: the offense looks no better than it did in 2023 and that is on Arthur Smith Let's see what happens next week, but I'm not impressed with what I have seen thus far. With that in mind, let's see what we learned on the defensive side of the ball.

Pittsburgh's defense is already playing at an elite level

In 2023, the offense struggled but the defense consistently played well. I don't think that's an understatement. What is also not an understatement, in my opinion, is that so far in the 2024 campaign, the Steelers defense is playing at an elite level.

Another statement that I don't think will cause any controversy is this: the defense is the sole reason we are sitting at two wins, no losses, and are in first place in the AFC North. Cory Trice Jr., Pittsburgh's seventh-round pick in the 2023 draft who missed the entire 2023 season due to injury, came up with a pivotal interception in the end zone.

Had the Broncos scored on that drive, the game would have played out much differently than it did. Protecting a ten-point lead early in the second half, the 'D' produced a 'splash play' that has been the 'calling card' so far this season.

At this point, I don't think anyone is surprised when the Steelers' defense makes a big play when we need one to be made, but it still needs to be pointed out because we don't know how sustainable the elite play of the defense will be down the stretch. For right now, we appreciate what we are witnessing. Let's see what else we learned.

Steelers still have an abundance of things to work on

As Mike Tomlin often says, it's good to be able to correct the issues you need to correct with a win 'under our belt'. Here's a glaring shortcoming; the Steelers offense punted eight times against the Broncos, scored one TD, and converted less than thirty-one percent of third down opportunities.

Through two games, the offense has scored thirty-one points. Fortunately for us, the defense has given up a meager sixteen points. Like anything else, we have no idea if the defense will suddenly cease playing at an elite level. What happens then?

If that does happen, the offense will need to step up, but there has been little indication thus far that it can step up to become an offense capable of driving the ball down the field in the fourth quarter to score the winning touchdown.

We have questions at quarterback, arguably the most important position on any NFL team, questions at the offensive tackle position as evidenced by the fact that Jones has seemingly regressed and, I would argue that we have questions on the coaching staff.

I have said it before and I will keep saying it: I am a Tomlin supporter, but not a Tomlin apologist. The lack of development with Jones, in particular, is a product of coaching. The lack of offensive output is a product of coaching. Since Tomlin hires the coaches, these shortcomings are squarely on him.

We the Steelers are undefeated and in first place in the AFC North. I won't complain too much until we lose a game that we should have won or until the offense continues to struggle, but, again, we are in first place so all is right in the Steelers world...for now.