While the Pittsburgh Steelers won in Week 1, they didn’t look like the team many expected them to be. Those problems followed them into Week 2, causing them to lose to the Seattle Seahawks. Now, they’re set to play the New England Patriots, another 1-1 team. The Steelers have an opportunity to bounce back, but former NFL scout John Middlekauff is pessimistic about their chances.
“Part of the reason I kind of believed in this team was I thought their defense was gonna be really good,” Middlekauff said recently on his 3 and Out podcast. “They’ve been atrocious. Now they’re going to New England, who I don’t think is really that talented. If the Steelers are going to be anything, they go on the road and they win this game.
“But I just don’t have that much faith in Pittsburgh. I think this has gotta be, this week, a rally of the troops. If Mike Tomlin still has it, then he gets it this week. If he doesn’t, we might be looking at, truly, the beginning of the end of this situation, if Mike Vrabel and this pretty average roster can take down this highly paid, bunch of veterans, Aaron Rodgers-led squad.”
Is the Steelers’ season over if they lose this Week 3 game? No. There will still be 14 games remaining, and their next few matchups also look winnable. Following the Patriots game, the Steelers are set to play the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Bengals. Two of those teams will be missing their starting quarterbacks, which should improve the Steelers’ chances at victory.
Also, the Steelers’ issues look fixable. Their defense has arguably been their biggest weakness, but that unit has a lot of talent. They could get back on track. Players like T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, and Jalen Ramsey are always threats to make impactful plays.
The Steelers’ offense has had issues as well, but one big sign of encouragement has been Rodgers’ level of play. He still looks like a capable starting quarterback. In Week 1, he helped the Steelers’ offense have a great game. If they can develop a more balanced attack, then the Steelers could field their best offense in years.
Additionally, it’s unclear what “the end” would look like for the Steelers. Their behavior this offseason doesn’t make it seem like they’re going to give up after only two losses. Could they make more major changes after this season if they continue to disappoint? Yes, but that’s a bridge they’ll cross later on.
The Steelers are trying to make a Super Bowl push this year, and a loss to the Patriots wouldn’t inspire confidence in them. They could bounce back from that, though. It’s a long season, and anything could happen. The Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles started last season at 2-2. The Steelers might not make a championship push, but they could still make the playoffs, even if they lose to the Patriots.
