The Steelers have already played this week, so time to talk about all the NFL action going on Sunday.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have already played in Week 3, and we don’t want to talk about it, but it means this Sunday can be spent perusing the rest of the NFL action going on. What games will you see today? Check the distribution map in the article below to find out what you’ll see in your area, if you don’t have the DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket package.
If you are like me, and you want to know what’s going on with the Steelers every day, then be sure to check out our podcasts. All of our shows can be found in the player below:
As always, use the comment section below for an open thread for all the NFL action during Week 3. As they always say, misery loves company!
The Steelers have already played this week, so time to talk about all the NFL action going on Sunday.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have already played in Week 3, and we don’t want to talk about it, but it means this Sunday can be spent perusing the rest of the NFL action going on. What games will you see today? Check the distribution map in the article below to find out what you’ll see in your area, if you don’t have the DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket package.
If you are like me, and you want to know what’s going on with the Steelers every day, then be sure to check out our podcasts. All of our shows can be found in the player below:
As always, use the comment section below for an open thread for all the NFL action during Week 3. As they always say, misery loves company!
BTSC’s random-thought renegade is back with his bizarre look at the Steelers week that was.
The Steelers’ season ended over seven months ago and a new one is about to begin with the Steelers prepping for their final preseason game. Of course, there’s plenty of news coming out of Latrobe. BTSC continues their recap of the past week’s events for our readers. So, let’s all take a look at the week in the ‘burgh together.
The Heinz Corporation is now owned by Kraft, in a way the Steelers are too.
Monday 9/19
One of the more unusual parts of a key play Sunday in which Gunner Olszewski muffed a punt and the Patriots’ Brenden Schooler recovered … was that the Steelers didn’t line up anyone opposite Schooler.
Are scapegoats a good marketing tool to sell beer?
Browns’ HC Kevin Stefanski already has ruled out DE Jadeveon Clowney (ankle), DE Chase Winovich (hamstring) and TE Jesse James for Thursday night’s game vs. the Steelers.
I still think that Hines Ward is the most legit Hall of Famer on this list, but will still have to wait a while. James Harrison has a shot. Maybe he should visit voters’ houses like he did in that FanDuel “Closer to the Game” commercial.
“If you’re the OC for the Steelers you’re gonna get run through the mud even when you break every offensive record there was” ~@thetoddhaley
Todd Haley may be a bit crazy, and a whole lot bitter. But I don’t think that he’s wrong.
Wednesday 9/21
Former Pittsburgh and Cleveland cornerback Joe Haden is retiring and will sign a one-day contract to retire as a Brown, per sources. His agent, @DrewJRosenhaus , confirmed his client’s decision. pic.twitter.com/kq9xwv7Ohb
I wonder if Haden feels jilted by the Steelers. The Browns never gave Joe Walter Haden a $22 Million extension like the Steelers did, unless this 1-day contract is worth that much. Cleveland has been known to spend foolishly. Hmmmmmmm.
#Titans are signing safety Andrew Adams off the #Steelers’ practice squad and onto their active 53, per source.
When I was a kid, the show Quincy starring Jack Klugman as a crime-solving medical examiner was decent, but scary sometimes. I guess you can say that about any practice squad signing. I don’t think Mr. Wilson moonlights in morgues though.
Both Myles Garrett & Joel Bitonio expected to play Thursday.
Does Mike Tomlin need to sleep on this? Is it dedication or defiance?
Eleven days after his pec injury, #Steelers star T.J. Watt is out here running sprints and going through an extended pregame workout. pic.twitter.com/W2tTj3iIUm
This was the significant week that was for the Steelers, mixed-in with my black-and-gold loving life. I’m sure next week will be full of Steelers happenings as well, so we’ll have to do this again. Have a great week, but better yet have a BAD one.
With two-straight losses, many Steelers fans feel that the sky is falling. But some things may not be as bad as they seem and could be turned around faster than expected.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have started their 2022 NFL season with a 1–2 record. While being below .500 is never desirable, even early in the season, it’s the losing two-straight games which is more concerning. But is the overall situation really as bad as it seems?
If nothing else, hopefully I can offer some perspective for Steelers fans going forward which may actually give a little bit of hope. With the negativity brought on as the Steelers stack losses, hope may be a dangerous word to speak of at this time. Perhaps I’ll be labeled too optimistic or a “homer” by bringing these things up, but it’s honestly how I feel about the Steelers season so far.
First, I wanted to give some general overall thoughts before getting into three specific details which may not be as bad as we think. Remember the Steelers are only three games into their season. There is still a lot of football to be played and things could turn things around at any time. Understandably, things could also go completely in the wrong direction.
Not only has the season just begun, the Steelers are already over-performing expectations beyond their own fan base. The Steelers were not expected to win any of their first three games. While Steelers’ Nation had an expectation of being 3–0, others around the NFL fully expected the Steelers to be 0–3 as they were underdogs in each game including their home opener. In fact, the Steelers are only favored to win one game before their bye week in Week 9. That’s right, the expectation outside of the fan base is 1–7.
But we are Steelers fans and we have higher standards. But by having higher standards, I also want to hold Steelers fans to a higher standard of actually basing things off of what is really happening on the field and not simply just a talking point or narrative.
With all this in mind, here are three things that are likely not as bad as what many in Steelers’ Nation believe at this time.
The Offensive Line
For those who don’t even watch the games as they happen, or care to look at every play as things go on, the narratives behind the Steelers which get put out there sometimes continue to be believed despite what is going on. Not everyone is a football connoisseur. When most people watch the game, including myself, we have a tendency to watch the football. And when it comes to the offensive line, the only time any of them touch the ball is when the center snaps it. Many times their play gets overlooked.
I admit, even someone who has played and coached the offensive line and absolutely loves scheming up blocks to run plays, when the action is happening I’m watching the ball. This is a big reason why I like to watch games by myself as many times I will watch a play live, and then in between plays rewind it to watch the blocking once again. It’s what I like to do.
But if you were someone watching the Steelers offensive line in 2022, you’re going to be surprised by what is going on. Honestly, they’re not that bad. Actually, they’ve been pretty good. In fact, they’ve been the best thing on the offense the last two games despite being losses, in my opinion. The pass blocking is in the top portion of the NFL and the run blocking is middle of the road. Additionally, they’ve been improving and gelling each week.
When things aren’t going well with the offense, some people who don’t know any better just assume the line is not playing well. But it’s really not the case. They’ve done a pretty nice job and have protected the quarterback well. Believe it or not, Mitch Trubisky had more time to throw than what it seems like the quarterback and coaches were prepared for coming into the early part of the season. Right now, they are not a group that the offense has to be scheming around their inadequacies like in previous seasons.
Just how good have they been in pass protection? This good…
How many sacks have the #Steelers offensive line surrendered in 3 games? Zero. Of the 5 sacks surrendered, 3 are on Trubisky (not credited to a blocker) and 2 are on Najee Harris on blitz pickup (per @PFF).
After coming in last in the NFL in rushing yards surrendered in 2021, Steelers fans are already disappointed with the Steelers ability to stop the run this season. While I’m not saying the rush defense has been good, it’s not the NFL’s worst like last year.
Of course, part of being able to stop the run is getting those stops in the key moments of a game. At the end of the Steelers Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots, they couldn’t get the key stops in the final minutes in order to give their offense another chance. While it was not their fault they were put in the situation, you still want to expect the team to come through. So it’s not like the rush defense is all sunshine and rainbows either.
With the Steelers having played three games this season and 30 other teams yet to play in Week 3 at this time, I’ll be using per game numbers just to be fair. When it comes to the Steelers rush defense, they have surrendered 142.7 yards per game which has them ranked 24th in the NFL. As I said before, this is not the worst rushing defense in the league, but it’s not as if it’s great either.
Where things get interesting is looking at why the Steelers are giving up so many rushing yards. The reason for this is because they have seen the fourth most rushing attempts in the NFL (34.3 per game). Only the Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, and Chicago Bears have faced more rushing attempts per game in 2022. Because of the high volume of rushing attempts the Steelers have seen, their yards per attempt given up is at 4.16 in 2022. This statistic actually has the Steelers ranked 13th in the NFL, so they are just above the middle of the league.
Yes, the numbers look bad when the Steelers have surrendered at least 124 yards each game. But even the most yardage they have surrendered, which was 170 yards against the Cleveland Browns, should be put into some perspective. In the game, the Browns ran the ball 38 times. Additionally, the 171 yards gained on the ground is the fewest that they have rushed for so far in 2022. In both of their previous games, the Browns rushed for more than 5.0 yards per carry. Against the Steelers, they averaged 4.5 yards per carry, which was less than what the Steelers averaged running the ball on the night with 4.7 yards per carry.
Obviously the rush defense can be better. But it isn’t the complete dumpster fire that some are making it out to be.
Mitch Trubisky
And this is where some people are going to get highly upset. Despite the Steelers being 1–2 and not scoring more than 17 offensive points in any game this season, Mitch Trubisky has not been that bad. Obviously he could be better. But the question I am often asking myself is if Steelers’ Nation would have the same attitude about him if Kenny Pickett was not waiting on the bench.
Here’s an even deeper thought: If Trubisky’s Thursday night performance of two touchdowns in the first half, where the Steelers never even reached a third down play on either drive but things just weren’t in sync for four-straight drives, would have been Pickett playing in the game, would there be outrage over his play? If every pass and every decision and every outcome of the Steelers offense for 2022 would have been done with #8 instead of #10, would the same judgment be given?
I want to see Kenny Pickett much like most Steelers fans. I want to know what the Steelers have going forward as well. But because he’s not on the field, there seems to be a belief that he would make every decision and every throw in every moment without ever taking a delay of game or making a bad read or throw. Right now, Kenny Pickett is benefiting from not playing because he’s not showing any weaknesses and is only what he is in the minds of the fans and not an actual product on the field.
I’m also not discounting the fact that Mitchell Trubisky is in his sixth NFL season and should have higher expectations. Perhaps fans would be completely fine with Pickett playing at the exact same level as Trubisky as he is learning the NFL system. But Trubisky went an entire season without being a starter and also was going to need time to grow in the system. But because he’s only under contract through next season and the Steelers have a first-round pick waiting in the wings, there is a large portion of the fan base that is not going to be satisfied with anything less than perfection.
There are three things that may not be the world-ending issues that some in Steelers’ Nation are making them out to be. While I’m sure some of you may share my optimism, I’m sure there will be a far-greater number who, with the Steelers at 1–2, are certain everything is wrong and nothing can be fixed.
Steelers fans are clamoring for change, but their options are limited at every position.
The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves at a crossroads, and it’s only been three weeks.
We all hoped for more, but I believe deep down inside our black-and-gold brains, we knew this could also be an outcome.
We had all dreamt of Matt Canada’s offense being worked to perfection with new additions to the group. We had all had visions of Brian Flores’ imprint, along with Teryl Austin and Mike Tomlin, creating a freak-of-nature type defense who could slow down any offensive attack.
But if we’re being honest with ourselves, we also have to admit we knew there was a chance this wouldn’t start off well. Maybe we didn’t think it would be this bad, but the odds of the Steelers struggling out of the gate were very real.
Whatever you thought of the potential the Steelers possessed in 2022, here they are sitting at 1-2 after a Week 3 Thursday night loss to the Cleveland Browns. The most recent loss certainly did leave a sting with the fan base, and many clamoring for change.
Even for those who had the understanding this could take time, and patience, they want change. And they want it now.
The problem with this type of thought is simple — where is the change going to come from?
Going to fire Mike Tomlin?
Yeah, no chance.
Going to fire Matt Canada?
While they might alter some of the duties during the season, trying to start over fresh with a new coordinator would only make matters worse, not necessarily better.
Want to add players from the outside to bolster positions?
If a player is still a free agent heading into Week 4, there is a reason they are on the open mark. Take a hard pass.
You get the picture. So, what change does this leave? It leaves just one change — quarterback.
The Steelers could very well tell Mitch Trubisky ‘thank you’ for all you’ve done for the team this first month of the season, but they are now turning things over to rookie Kenny Pickett.
It’s what fans want, and it would be the change many are craving at this juncture in the season. But would it be enough? Would it fix all their woes? You know better than that. Things certainly could be better, offensively, but would it be the cure-all for all that ails this team?
Hardly.
At this point in time, you should expect Mike Tomlin to stick with Trubisky for at least the foreseeable future. Trubisky is a veteran, and he has also withstood the angst and vitriol of a fan base during his time with the Chicago Bears. He can take the heat, and in the process Pickett will get an up-close-and-personal view of what expectations at the NFL level look like on a weekly basis.
I’m not saying this is what I think Tomlin should do, but what I believe he will do.
Some might view this type of stubbornness as a negative, and damaging to both the fan base and the organization. But there is also a real chance Trubisky remains the guy until they feel Pickett is both physically, and mentally, ready to step in and take the reigns.
Just look at the upcoming schedule before the team’s bye week in Week 9:
That is a stretch which is playing out much tougher than we all thought when the regular season schedule was released this past spring. Does it make sense for Tomlin to stick with Trubisky, and if things spiral out of control, go to Pickett after the bye?
The schedule doesn’t look quite as daunting after the bye week.
If the Trubisky era doesn’t last the entire season, and Tomlin is devout in sticking with his pick at quarterback for as long as possible, the bye week might just be the time when a change is made.
But let’s bring this all back to the start. Is it change for what could be seen as an improvement, or change just for change? I suggest you beware of the latter, changing just to change is a slippery slope, but if you are changing because you feel the changes made will help you win more games? I’m all for it.
No one is demanding Kendrick Green take over for Kevin Dotson at left guard, nor are fans suggesting Chris Wormley should take starting reps over someone like Larry Ogunjobi or Cam Heyward. The change fans want has to be both realistic and impactful. It comes down to one position, the most important position in professional sports, and whether that change comes anytime soon is anyone’s guess…but I’ll say it will be later, rather than sooner.
“I thought somehow, in this weird way, I’m going to be responsible for this loss.”
In the moments before the Steelers left for their September 11th game against Cincinnati, the history books added a new chapter to the ongoing mythology of Mike Tomlin. Black Nike Air Force 1s for everyone. A gift from Mike Tomlin, and a motivating message that resonated across the locker room and the country. The plan was set in motion a week early when Pittsburgh cleat king Cody Sabol got a call from the Steelers head of equipment, Adam Regan.
“You can kind of hear it in his voice,” Sabol says. “He’s like ‘I don’t know if this is possible, but is there any way you can create some Air Force 1s that are all black?’”
The Steelers had 146 pairs of shoes, but they were white. It was Cody’s mission to paint every pair completely black. After the call with Regan ended, he knew he had to call in some back-up.
“I employed some of my closest friends, and I said ‘Why don’t you call off a week of work, and I’ll pay you. We got it done. We created a little bit of a of a workshop in my garage. We should probably go see a doctor.”
Cody has become the go-to artist for the team’s cleat needs. He says he’s become very familiar with just about everybody in the Steelers front office, especially the equipment guys like Regan, Pat Noone and Kyle Powers. Cody says they’re always in contact, because cleats constantly need to be changed or fixed to Steelers colors.
“For example, James Daniels is a new guy on the team,” Cody says. “This is his first year on the Steelers. He has a bunch of cleats from teams past, or he has a couple pairs of cleats that Nike doesn’t make anymore. So sometimes guys get really comfortable with a set of cleats and then Nike stops producing them. Last year, we had to turn Trai Turner’s cleats from 2013 into Steelers colors. We were shoveling off paint, because in every, city he would get a new custom artist. People wonder, ‘Can’t they just get new shoes?’ and the answer is sometimes, ‘No, they can’t.’”
Mike Tomlin has entire Steelers team pulling up with black air force 1 energy before Week 1
Once news of the AF1s went viral, Cody had a new concern: social media. Some critics panned the gesture by saying Tomlin hadn’t given them ‘real’ Air Force Ones.
“If the team lost, I was going to get a lot of flak on Twitter, because they were fake black Air Force ones,” Cody says. “Boswell came out for the first attempt in overtime, and then he doinked it. Somehow in this weird way, I’m thinking that I’m going to be responsible for this loss. They ended up winning, which is great. Anytime you do something that gets a lot of traction on Twitter or social media in general, you seem to hear a lot of the negative side. So the fact that they won really helped out with that.”
Steelers RedditNew Steelers Logo?
While Cody doesn’t necessarily endorse the idea that Tomlin’s gesture compares to artists like Banksy or Warhol, he does acknowledge that he had a role in something special.
“I feel like it’s become a little part of the Steelers lore,” Cody says. “Tomlin wanted to send a message to the rest the NFL that we’re gonna be fighting. All season, we’re gonna be fighters. That’s a mentality that we have to have. The idea that I got to be a part of that was really cool, and to bring Coach Tomlin‘s vision to fruition was a really cool thing in and of itself.”
(Kyle Chrise is the host of “What Yinz Talkin’ Bout.” Listen to more of Cody’s interview on the episode dropping 9/29/22)
The Steelers have already played the Week 3. What game will you get to see?
If you were like me, before I decided to sign up for the DirecTV Sunday Ticket package every week I was wondering whether I’d be able to watch my beloved Steelers in the comfort of my own home, or if I’d have to go elsewhere to watch the game.
Before there were websites devoted to this, it meant a lengthy trip on the television guide screen to see which game was scheduled to air, but now it’s just a click away.
So, even though the Steelers have already played this week, check out which games you’ll see in your local viewing area.
For those who want to know which game they’ll see, check the map below, courtesy of 506 Sports:
CBS
RED: Chiefs at Colts YELLOW: Jaguars at Chargers (LATE) GREEN: Bills at Dolphins BLUE: Bengals at Jets ORANGE: Texans at Bears
FOX (Double Header)
Early
GREEN: Raiders at Titans RED: Ravens at Patriots BLUE: Eagles at Commanders ORANGE: Saints at Panthers YELLOW: Lions at Vikings
Get the latest BTSC podcast content in the ‘Podcast Roundup’.
Steelers 2022 is ongoing and we here at BTSC, and our podcast platform, are here with you every step of the way. In the past we have given you the podcasts in individual articles on the BTSC website, but we’ve decided to go with a ‘Podcast Roundup’ article which has the latest two podcasts for your enjoyment. The reasoning behind this is to take up less space on the site for the great written content we have at BTSC.
With that being said or typed, enjoy the shows below with a brief description of each show:
Pittsburgh Steelers Touchdown Under: The team need to steel themselves for some home truths
Week 3 of the NFL season has passed for the Steelers, with a result that flushes them down against the Browns. The Steelers are 1-2 on the season and fans are already frustrated, perplexed, upset, and calling for change. What could or should happen from here? What responsibility does Canada, Trubisky, Tomlin, and specific position groups need to take? Can they turn it around or are we – Steelers fans – destined for a painful to watch season?
Join Matty Peverell & Mark Davison as they answer these questions and more, while providing a global perspective to how the Steelers can achieve success in their chase for a seventh Lombardi, in this latest episode of ‘Touchdown Under’ – BTSC’s Australian sensation.
Steelers News and Notes
Game Reactions
Listen to the show below
Tune into the latest episode of Touchdown Under, the Australian sensation from the BTSC family of podcasts.
We Run the North: Mitch? And the state of the AFC North
The biggest question in Steeler Nation right now consists of one syllable, Mitch? And at 1-2. what is the Steelers’ status in the division? Join BTSC’s Kevin Tate and his AFC North Crew featuring Brandon Herriott and Pay Saunders as they break down the division after Week 3 for the Browns and Steelers and before Week 3 for the Bengals and Ravens.
Be sure to check out this and all episodes on the following platforms:
Come and join this merry band of Steelers’ faithful for some lively debate about our Steelers, good food, music, and the merits of the odd cold beverage.
Well, that wasn’t fun on Thursday.
It’s Saturday afternoon here and I am still feeling a bit underwhelmed with the entire offense. Thursday nights are made for Steelers football and well…I mean it certainly is offensive, so at least we have that.
I mean how bad can it get?
Heck, we don’t even have a stat sheet that proves (yet again) that T.J. is superior to that PFF Darling, Myles. Can you honestly believe they ended the night with an equal number of sacks…
Now that you have had some time to step off that ledge, what positives can you share with the group about our beloved Steelers so far?
Coach T is saying ‘NO’ to major changes on the offensive side of the ball. Again, give us a positive perspective on this decision.
With our obvious challenges regarding the offense which former Steeler would you love to have from his prime? And NO Big Ben or Terry B can’t be your choice!
With this mini bye, the Steelers are getting the working man/woman equivalent of a 3-day weekend. What makes a great 3-day weekend for you?
Fall is officially upon us. Tell us about one of your favorite fall foods or preferably recipes.
There are several NFL games this week which will help get a better understanding of teams the Steelers face later in 2022
With the Pittsburgh Steelers already playing their game for Week 3, this Sunday offers a number of games which fans could take in. When Steelers Nation looks to see what else has gone on around the NFL, there are a few matchups between two teams on the Steelers schedule, either past or future, which could give some insight into things to come.
First off, lets check out how the three games from last week ended up. Two of the games involved big comebacks to win it while the other seemed fairly uneventful. When it comes to the betting lines for the game, the following information is the current consensus spread this week as reported by DraftKings Sportsbook.
I thought this game was over. As I was driving home after the Steelers game to do the Post Game Show, I didn’t even pay attention to the score and only found out later that the Jets came back to win it. Scoring 14 points in just over the last minute and a half was not something I expected. Unfortunately, there was not a hangover from this loss for the Browns on Thursday night.
This game was 3–3 until almost halfway through the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay finally got on the scoreboard with a touchdown and added another one on defense before the Saints scored late. I don’t know if there’s much to be taken from how this game ultimately played out.
The reason I missed the end of the Browns game is because I was following the end of the Dolphins and Ravens game. It was another epic collapse by a team to give up a huge lead at the end of the game. With Miami now 2–0 with one of their wins over the Patriots who took down the Steelers, this game is showing more about the Steelers quality of opponents than anything else.
For Week 3, here are the three games which could give the most perspective on what the Steelers can expect with some of their future opponents:
This is a big game in the AFC East with two undefeated teams. Additionally, the Steelers travel to both of these teams to face off prior to their bye week. So far both teams seem strong, but Sunday might show which team is stronger.
The Steelers have already faced the New England Patriots in 2022, and they do not face the Ravens until December. Still, this matchup is intriguing just to see how a team that the Steelers could not finish off fairs against someone they still have to play twice.
Once again this game features a team Steelers have already played, but the Steelers will face the Bengals again in 2022. More importantly, the Steelers next matchup is against the New York Jets which will either bring the Steelers back to .500 or put them in a huge hole moving forward. Let’s see how these teams matchup against each other.
So there are the three main matchups which can give Steelers fans an indication as to the quality of upcoming opponents in 2022. With each passing week, a little bit more understanding about each team is able to be determined.
Which of these other games will be the most telling as it pertains to the 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers? Make sure you vote in the poll and give your thoughts in the comments below.
