The Steelers’ early-season momentum? Poof. Gone. After an ugly but promising Week 1 win against the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh hit a brick wall, losing 20-3 to the New England Patriots on the road in Week 2. This wasn’t just a loss; it was a screeching halt, showing some serious cracks that need fixing fast.
That Offensive Line Is Giving Me Nightmares
Seriously, you could write a whole novel about the Steelers’ offensive line woes from Sunday. Aaron Rodgers was sacked four times. Four! And he was pressured on a staggering 17 snaps, according to Patriots.com. The entire offense averaged just 3.5 yards per play for the game. Rodgers was constantly running for his life in the pocket, and if you were hoping for a strong ground game to bail them out, forget it. There was zero room to work with. It’s so frustrating because the Omar Khan regime has poured a ton of resources into this offensive line, and yet, here we are again, seeing the same depressing results.
The right side of the line is the obvious weak link two weeks in, and it’s not like they have long-term starters there with first-rounder Max Iheanachor and third-rounder Gennings Dunker riding the pine. Even the left side, which played on the right last year, hasn’t settled in. Pittsburgh had a whole offseason to prepare for these changes, so if they’re struggling, it’s on their own plan. Pairing a young offensive line still clearly going through growing pains with a veteran, less-mobile quarterback was a choice, alright. While some of Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick’s struggles are a bit surprising, it feels like there are easier fixes for the right side. After Dylan Cook and Spencer Anderson had rough performances against New England, you gotta wonder if it’s time to give Iheanachor a shot at tackle and veteran backup Brock Hoffman, who has 16 career starts, a nod at guard. Dunker being inactive for two weeks tells me he’s not as pro-ready as some thought. Yeah, the O-line was bad, it’s a huge concern, and it’s clearly not a finished product.
“Dink and Dunk” Ain’t the Plan, But It’s All They’re Getting
Head coach Mike McCarthy kept it real after the game, admitting the Steelers were struggling with the “basics” on Sunday. Anyone who watched that mess would agree. But then he dropped a truth bomb in the press conference that really hammered home why this offense consistently feels behind the rest of the NFL: a complete lack of explosive plays. McCarthy was clear about his philosophy, saying, “I don’t want to dink and dunk. There’s a place for that maybe situationally, but that’s not the philosophy , we have to atte…” The quote cuts off, but the message is crystal clear. They need to hit big plays, and they just aren’t.
What does this mean for the Steelers moving forward? They’ve got a seriously wounded offensive line that can’t protect their quarterback, and their head coach is calling out the absence of explosive plays. They’ve gotta figure out how to keep Rodgers upright and create some game-changing moments, or this Week 2 struggle is just a taste of what’s to come.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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