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The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off of a horrific Week 1 loss to the New England Patriots, as they fell by a score of 33-3 and looked out of sync and overmatched on both sides of the ball. Luckily, the Steelers will be heading home for Week 2, but they don't exactly have an easy matchup on the slate. It'll be the Steelers vs. Seahawks.
Pittsburgh really needs this game to avoid falling into an 0-2 hole, as only nine percent of NFL teams that lose their first two contests of the season go on to make the playoffs.
So, here are four predictions for the Steelers ahead of their pivotal battle with the Seahawks:
4. James Conner will be a Key Piece
James Conner is supposed to be Pittsburgh's replacement for Le'Veon Bell moving forward, and last year, he looked great, showing some nice versatility and making the Pro Bowl in the process.
But in Week 1 of 2019, Conner was horrendous, carrying the ball 10 times for just 21 yards. He did catch four passes for 44 yards, but his main job is to run the football.
I expect Conner to be much better this week.
Seattle's run defense is only decent, and behind a terrific Steelers offensive line, Conner should see some holes open up, which should allow him to be much more efficient with his touches.
3. They'll Get More Pressure on the Quarterback
Pittsburgh was a sack machine last season, as it racked up 52 sacks to finish tied for the league lead.
But against the Patriots in Week 1, the Steelers' pass rush looked like a shell of its former self, as Bud Dupree was the only member of the group to record a sack.
I expect that to change this weekend, as Pittsburgh has to know that the only way it can maximize its defensive effectiveness is to get pressure on the quarterback.
The problem is, Russell Wilson is one of the shiftier signal-callers in the NFL, so the Steelers might have some difficulty wrapping him up. The key, though, is simply applying pressure and potentially forcing Wilson into making mistakes, or at least making it so he doesn't have time to find open receivers.
2. Ben Roethlisberger will have a Statement Game
Ben Roethlisberger was less than stellar in the season opener, completing 27 of his 47 passes for 276 yards and an interception.
With Antonio Brown gone, all eyes are on Roethlisberger to see if he can make the offense fly, and in Week 1, he certainly came up short. Then again, so did everyone else.
Look for a much better game out of Big Ben in Week 2. He'll almost surely complete a better percentage of his throws, and I also expect the yardage leader from a year ago to also throw for over 300 yards.
No, Roethlisberger doesn't have the same lethal group of receivers as in years past, but these guys are no slouches. So long as Ben takes care of the football, the Steelers' passing game should be alright.
1. The Steelers will Win Comfortably
The Steelers need this game. They're coming off of an embarrassing loss. They're at home.
All signs point to Pittsburgh winning this contest.
Not that the Seahawks aren't a solid team, but they're not the Patriots, and while they aren't exactly playing with house money, they can “afford” a road loss in Pittsburgh after starting off the season 1-0.
Will the Steelers rout Seattle? Probably not, but they'll win by 10 points or so, and it will be one of those games where you feel like Pittsburgh is never in any real danger of losing.
