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The Pittsburgh Steelers have certainly been quite entertaining early this season. Their Week 3 clash with the New England Patriots was proof of that. The Steelers held on for a dramatic 21-14 victory. Aaron Rodgers delivered late, Calvin Austin III made the decisive catch, and the defense came up with big plays at crucial moments. Beneath the excitement, though, lies a troubling reality. This team has issues that could undermine its season if they aren’t addressed soon.
In the Steelers’ Week 3 win over the Patriots, Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdown passes. Those included the game-winner t Austin with just over two minutes remaining. Meanwhile, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye passed for 269 yards and two scores. However, New England self-destructed with five turnovers. They had one interception and four fumbles, two of which came inside Pittsburgh’s 2-yard line. The Steelers’ defense proved decisive. It produced five sacks, forcing all five turnovers. They also shut down a potential game-tying drive in the final minute.
Veteran Steelers lineman Cameron Heyward played a starring role. He tipped a pass that resulted in an interception and later forced a fumble near the goal line. Rodgers, meanwhile, made history by surpassing Brett Favre for fourth place on the all-time touchdown pass list. That was after a 12-yard strike to DK Metcalf in the second quarter. Still, beneath the celebration, Pittsburgh has some worrying issues.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the four reasons the Pittsburgh Steelers should be concerned despite Week 3 win over Patriots.
Rodgers still has flashes of the brilliance that made him one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in NFL history. His fade touchdowns to Metcalf and Austin were vintage Rodgers—precise. Those were daring throws in high-leverage moments. Pittsburgh’s red zone offense remains efficient largely because of his poise in those situations.
Look closer, though, and cracks appear. His accuracy was inconsistent, and he threw a brutal interception directly into the arms of former Steelers linebacker Robert Spillane. At his age, Rodgers is still tough enough to hang in against pressure. However, it’s fair to wonder how much punishment his body can endure over a 17-game schedule. His play isn’t elevating the team often enough, and stretches of stagnation put unnecessary pressure on the defense. Asking Rodgers to carry this team week after week could prove unsustainable.
The good news is that TJ Watt finally broke through. He snapped a six-game drought without a sack by bringing down Maye twice. It was a relief for fans to see their defensive star regain his disruptive presence. It also gave Pittsburgh hope that Watt can once again anchor the pass rush.
The bad news is that skepticism remains. One game, even a strong one, doesn’t erase nearly two months of relative invisibility. The NFL’s elite pass rushers don’t just show up occasionally. They dominate consistently, dictating protections and...
