Behind the Steel Curtain
I’ve written a lot of “Let’s talk Steelers” installments over the summer. Most have been general conversation starters around broad topics: potential breakout players, season predictions, grading various roster moves, etc.
But now, Week 1 of the regular season is right around the corner. It’s a bit more tangible than the general speculation that eats up the summer. So let’s get specific:
What prompted this question? May I present a brutal, yet unsurprising stat:
And this season-opening the drive — the first of the year after a number of top starters missed the entire preseason — has the opportunity to be the coldest of cold starts for a team that’s known for them at this point.
To be fair, Aaron Rodgers is at the point in his career where prep time is less and less important. And all healthy starters did participate in a joint practice with the Buccaneers this preseason, a tradeoff that former Steeler Breiden Fehoko said actually benefits players more.
But to return to the Rodgers point, here was his season-opening drive with the Jets in 2024: three plays, seven yards, and then a punt.
Rodgers and D.K. Metcalf may or may not revolutionize the Steelers offense in 2025. But I don’t have high hopes for their first drive of the regular season.
But a big sign of growth for the team’s new-look offense would be if it can start to heat up in the first quarter of games this season rather than dramatically coming alive to do just enough in the fourth quarter. With a number of new additions on offense — from now-healthy right tackle Troy Fautanu, to scheme-fit running back Kaleb Johnson, to Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith — there’s reason to hope that’ll be the case in 2025.
But Week 1? That might be too high of an expectation.
How do you think the Steelers will fare in their season-opening drive? Join the BTSC community and let us know in the comments!
