ClutchPoints
The Pittsburgh Steelers entered Week 2 riding the momentum of their season-opening win. Sunday’s matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, though, brought them crashing back to earth. What looked like a competitive game for three quarters unraveled in the final stretch. Seattle outscored Pittsburgh 17-3 in the fourth quarter to walk away with a 31-17 victory. The Steelers showed flashes of promise but were ultimately undone by costly mistakes and uninspired play from veterans.
The Steelers were undone by a disastrous fourth quarter in which Seattle outscored them by two touchdowns. The turning point came on a kickoff misplay by Kaleb Johnson that gifted the Seahawks a touchdown and stretched their lead to 24-14. That effectively sealed the game.
For most of the afternoon, the Steelers kept the contest within reach. That said, a cascade of mistakes eventually buried them. The offense sputtered under Aaron Rodgers, and the defense once again underperformed despite its hefty payroll. In addition, the special teams proved a major liability. Coming off the high of their Week 1 win, this loss was a sobering reminder that Pittsburgh has significant flaws to fix if it hopes to remain competitive in the AFC.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Pittsburgh Steelers most to blame for Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Johnson’s miscue stands as the single biggest turning point of the game. Tasked with handling kickoff returns, Johnson let a ball bounce into the end zone. The Seahawks then pounced on to score a gift touchdown. That mental lapse stretched Seattle’s lead to 24-14 and effectively ended any chance of a comeback.
Tat special-teams gaffe was especially devastating. Johnson was promptly removed from the return unit. Now, his long-term role remains unclear. That’s not surprising, since the mistake cost Pittsburgh dearly in the short term. On a day when they needed every edge they could get, the Steelers instead gave Seattle free points.
Tight end Pat Freiermuth has been a reliable target in past years. Lately, though, he has become more of a frustration. On the Steelers’ opening drive, Rodgers rolled right and delivered a vintage, pinpoint throw, only for Freiermuth to drop what could have been a highlight-reel catch. Yes, Pittsburgh salvaged a field goal on the drive. That said, those are the types of plays the team pays Freiermuth $12 million annually to make.
Beyond that, his overall impact on the passing game has been minimal. He isn’t stretching the field and isn’t delivering the big plays the offense desperately needs. Right now, he looks like a luxury contract rather than a difference-maker.
The most troubling storyline of Pittsburgh’s season so far is its defense. Note that this is the highest-paid unit in the NFL. They have, owever, given up 30-plus points in back-to-back games. Against Seattle, the same issues persisted. They displayed an...
