The Pittsburgh Steelers got absolutely blanked, 17-0, by the New York Jets on Friday night at Acrisure Stadium, their first shutout loss since 2016 when they fell to the Philadelphia Eagles by the exact same score. A goose egg on the scoreboard in an early season game always stings, and for Pittsburgh, it brings some immediate questions to the surface, especially about who’s earning their stripes and who’s falling behind.
QB Will Howard’s Rough Start and Offensive Line Woes
Let’s just say it: quarterback Will Howard had a brutal first career start. The young guy went 10-for-15 for just 74 yards, but the real gut-punch was those two interceptions. Both of them were easy grabs for the Jets’ defense. Howard just didn’t seem to see the defenders lurking, waiting to jump the routes. And while we can point fingers, it’s fair to mention Roman Wilson didn’t exactly help his QB by failing to flatten out his routes and drifting downfield. When you’re fighting for a backup spot, a performance like that makes it incredibly tough for the Steelers’ coaching staff to trust you with the role. Mason Rudolph, who didn’t even take a snap, might be looking like the biggest winner from that whole mess.
Then there’s the offensive line, man. It’s tough to keep saying this, but it’s been negative takeaways for them for a second straight week. You get shut out, 17-0, and it’s hard not to look at the big boys up front. They’ve gotta find a way to protect their quarterback and open up some running lanes if this offense is going to get anything going.
Who Actually Stepped Up? Roberts, Jenkins, and Johnston Shine
Despite the overall disaster, a few guys still showed up. Linebacker Elandon Roberts was playing on another level out there. Seriously, they could sit him the rest of this early season, and it would be totally deserved because he played with his hair on fire. From the moment he hit the field, he was making plays, stopping a run right at the line of scrimmage. His most insane play was on a fourth-and-two, making a phenomenal open-field tackle to shut down a New York first down. That kind of energy and production is exactly what Pittsburgh needs moving forward.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins also had a huge night, especially considering safety is one of the thinnest spots on this Steelers roster. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham was blitzing Jenkins early and often, and it paid off big time, with Jenkins snagging a TFL early in the game. He’s proven he’s a solid veteran presence who can flip a play in an instant, chasing down the quarterback. He definitely earned a serious bump in his chances to make the 53-man roster. And yeah, if your punter is one of the biggest bright spots, it wasn’t a great night for the team. But Cameron Johnston averaged 50.5 yards on six punts! The defense is gonna love having that kind of field position if he keeps that up.
This kind of early game loss really puts the pressure on. The Steelers need to regroup fast, especially with those glaring issues on the offensive line and at backup quarterback. They need guys like Roberts to keep bringing that fire every single game. The next one is crucial for figuring out if this team can fix these early problems or if these struggles are here to stay.
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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