The 2022 NFL year is officially underway with time-opening game titles concluded and in Pittsburgh a new era has begun. With Ben Roethlisberger in total retirement, the Mitch Trubisky-led offense is in full swing.
Getting gained the beginning quarterback occupation beating out rookie Kenny Pickett and final year’s backup, Mason Rudolph, Trubisky who was when a starter in Chicago is a starter again when sporting the Black and Gold colors.
Pittsburgh opened the time in Cincinnati and had been underdogs to the defending AFC champion Bengals. By profitable in time beyond regulation in what turned out to be a topsy-turvy match that resembled a heavyweight boxing match, the past stable punch that landed received the fight. Missed PATs and industry goals by both of those teams led the video game into an added frame where by Chris Boswell last but not least managed to nail a video game-successful field goal as time in the additional time interval was running out.
Even though Steelers enthusiasts were hoping to see a “new look” offense from Trubisky and his device, it was Pittsburgh’s protection that stole the present. Storming out of the locker space, T.J. Watt and organization looked like a playoff-prepared unit as they dominated Joe Burrow and his offense approximately from start off to complete. Unfortunately, Watt got hurt in the activity and his status is up in the air but it seems he will be out for at minimum a handful of months.
Still, it was not just Watt that shined. One of my preferred acquisitions in the off-year was that of former Jacksonville Jaguar Myles Jack. I think he is heading to be a key component on defense and in week just one he proved me proper. Jack was 2nd on the workforce in tackles with 10 like six solo takedowns. Jack also defended a person move and had a person deal with for a decline.
Minkah Fitzpatrick bought the Steelers on the board early with a select-6 and then completed the video game with 14 tackles to guide the group 10 of those people on his own. But general, the defense was spectacular. The mighty ‘D reached Joe Burrow in the backfield 7 occasions forcing the Bengals’ QB into throwing 4 interceptions and fumbling twice shedding a person of those unfastened balls.
Credit to Joe Burrow for receiving his staff again into the video game in the 2nd 50 % and obtaining the game won with just two seconds left in regulation when he strike Ja’Marr chase with a landing pass that tied the game at 20 and all it would just take was an Evan McPherson PAT but the attempt was blocked. That sent the match into overtime.
Cincinnati had a opportunity to get the activity in OT but the ordinarily trusted McPherson amazingly skipped a 29-property chip shot. The Steelers would get that identical likelihood with just 2:27 left in the extra time interval and Boswell who also is a clutch kicker just barely skipped the activity-winner as his 55-yard endeavor hit the upright on the industry purpose article.
Just after the Steelers protection held the Bengals in test, Trubisky who was not getting an spectacular debut outing for Pittsburgh ultimately set an spectacular strong push with each other and drove the Steelers’ offense downfield commencing at his personal 20 and ending on Cincinnati’s 35-lawn 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, immediately after one activity the Steelers are sharing the top rated spot with Baltimore and the Cleveland Browns equally victories in their respective time openers. Upcoming up for Pittsburgh are the New England Patriots who will not existing the caliber of staff Pittsburgh has had to deal with in previous meetings with the Pats who essentially have owned the Steelers.
As for Trubisky, with 16 online games remaining in the standard period, the problem now is how extended can he continue to be a starter? In Cincinnati, the former Bear and Costs quarterback threw 38 passes and done just 21 for only 194 yards when his QB rating was a disappointing 78.2. On the good aspect, Trubisky did not throw an interception and was sacked just when. The offensive line was the biggest concern on offense heading into the year but that unit held up rather very well superior than predicted. On the other hand, Pittsburgh’s functioning Ought to enhance if they strategy on reaching the publish-time or profitable additional video games. In the time opener, it was Chase Claypool who experienced the most rushing yards with 36 when starter Nmajee Harris was nursing a bum foot and could only manage 23 yards on 10 carries.
Kenny Pickett will hold out patiently in the wings but imagine me, if Trubisky doesn’t get started padding his stats, Steelers Nation will start calling for the rookie to turn out to be the starter. There is no question that 1 working day the former College of Pittsburgh Panthers’ quarterback will be the subsequent franchise quarterback as very long as he can demonstrate that the capability is there to grow to be a entire-time starter. A person challenge is that Mike Tomlin named Trubisky as a group captain so it would be difficult to notify a captain he has to ride the bench.
The base line right here is that the Steelers aren’t going to be pushovers and they appear to be coming into the 2022 period with a chip on their shoulder and some really serious perspective. They really should rival all three other groups in the division and as it has been the norm for decades, drive their opponents to the limit.
