The 2022 NFL year is officially underway with period-opening game titles concluded and in Pittsburgh a new era has started. With Ben Roethlisberger in complete retirement, the Mitch Trubisky-led offense is in entire swing.
Owning gained the starting off quarterback career beating out rookie Kenny Pickett and last year’s backup, Mason Rudolph, Trubisky who was after a starter in Chicago is a starter once more whilst sporting the Black and Gold hues.
Pittsburgh opened the period in Cincinnati and were being underdogs to the defending AFC winner Bengals. By successful in additional time in what turned out to be a topsy-turvy video game that resembled a heavyweight boxing match, the last strong punch that landed gained the fight. Missed PATs and area aims by both groups led the game into an excess body exactly where Chris Boswell eventually managed to nail a sport-winning area intention as time in the additional time time period was functioning out.
Even though Steelers enthusiasts ended up hoping to see a “new look” offense from Trubisky and his device, it was Pittsburgh’s defense that stole the show. Storming out of the locker place, T.J. Watt and enterprise looked like a playoff-ready unit as they dominated Joe Burrow and his offense nearly from start to finish. However, Watt bought harm in the activity and his position is up in the air but it appears he will be out for at least a number of weeks.
Continue to, it was not just Watt that shined. One particular of my beloved acquisitions in the off-time was that of former Jacksonville Jaguar Myles Jack. I believe he is heading to be a big issue on defense and in week a single he proved me appropriate. Jack was 2nd on the group in tackles with 10 such as six solo takedowns. Jack also defended 1 pass and experienced a person deal with for a reduction.
Minkah Fitzpatrick got the Steelers on the board early with a select-6 and then completed the sport with 14 tackles to guide the staff 10 of these on his very own. But over-all, the protection was spectacular. The mighty ‘D arrived at Joe Burrow in the backfield 7 periods forcing the Bengals’ QB into throwing four interceptions and fumbling twice getting rid of just one of those people unfastened balls.
Credit score to Joe Burrow for finding his team back again into the activity in the next 50 % and obtaining the activity received with just two seconds still left in regulation when he hit Ja’Marr chase with a landing pass that tied the game at 20 and all it would consider was an Evan McPherson PAT but the attempt was blocked. That despatched the recreation into overtime.
Cincinnati experienced a chance to earn the match in OT but the typically trusted McPherson extremely missed a 29-garden chip shot. The Steelers would get that same probability with just 2:27 left in the time beyond regulation time period and Boswell who also is a clutch kicker just scarcely skipped the video game-winner as his 55-garden attempt strike the upright on the subject goal article.
Right after the Steelers defense held the Bengals in look at, Trubisky who was not obtaining an spectacular debut outing for Pittsburgh finally put an spectacular strong drive alongside one another and drove the Steelers’ offense downfield commencing at his personal 20 and ending on Cincinnati’s 35-property line where Boswell nailed a 53-property game-winner to stun the Bengals.
With the Baltimore Ravens and Bengals favored ending 1-2 in the AFC North, right after 1 activity the Steelers are sharing the prime spot with Baltimore and the Cleveland Browns both of those victories in their respective period openers. Subsequent up for Pittsburgh are the New England Patriots who will not present the caliber of workforce Pittsburgh has had to experience in previous conferences with the Pats who fundamentally have owned the Steelers.
As for Trubisky, with 16 video games left in the normal period, the concern now is how extended can he remain a starter? In Cincinnati, the former Bear and Expenses quarterback threw 38 passes and completed just 21 for only 194 yards whilst his QB score was a disappointing 78.2. On the positive aspect, Trubisky did not toss an interception and was sacked just once. The offensive line was the biggest concern on offense heading into the time but that unit held up instead perfectly far better than predicted. Having said that, Pittsburgh’s running Must strengthen if they program on reaching the post-year or successful much more video games. In the time opener, it was Chase Claypool who had the most speeding yards with 36 when starter Nmajee Harris was nursing a bum foot and could only manage 23 yards on 10 carries.
Kenny Pickett will wait around patiently in the wings but feel me, if Trubisky doesn’t start off padding his stats, Steelers Nation will begin contacting for the rookie to develop into the starter. There is no question that one particular day the former College of Pittsburgh Panthers’ quarterback will be the next franchise quarterback as lengthy as he can exhibit that the means is there to grow to be a whole-time starter. 1 difficulty is that Mike Tomlin named Trubisky as a group captain so it would be difficult to explain to a captain he has to ride the bench.
The base line below is that the Steelers aren’t likely to be pushovers and they look to be coming into the 2022 period with a chip on their shoulder and some critical perspective. They should rival all 3 other groups in the division and as it has been the norm for a long time, drive their opponents to the limit.
