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The Steelers rookie was forced to a start in his second game, and he stepped up to the challenge

The Pittsburgh Steelers returned the Heinz Field for their Week 2 matchup against the Denver Broncos. After emerging victorious with a 26–21 win, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger gave rookie fourth-round draft pick Kevin Dotson the game ball after his first career start at right guard according to Teresa Varley of Steelers.com.

Dotson was the first player selected in the 2020 NFL draft who did not receive an invitation to the NFL combine. Even without the chance to impress in Indianapolis, the Steelers selected Dotson with their second fourth-round pick of the 2020 draft.

Going into the season third on the depth chart at guard, Dotson was called into action much earlier than expected as All-Pro guard David DeCastro has been unable to take the field with a knee injury. Following the loss of reserve guard Stefen Wisniewski, Dotson filled in the final six snaps in Week 1 and got the start in Week 2.

For some, judging the play of an offensive lineman is not something which stands out while watching a live contest. Because I was interested in how Dotson and Chukwuma Okorafor would perform as they were both getting their first start of the 2020 season, I rewound the majority of the Steelers offensive plays in order to see specifically how they did. While it was not an in-depth breakdown as I was trying to not miss the next snap, both Dotson and Okorafor performed admirably. But if having to choose which player stepped up their game the most, Dotson stood out even more on several plays.

As for the game ball, Dotson took to social media to share some images from the game along with the ball he was awarded from the Steelers.

With two new players starting in Week 2 after the injuries sustained to the right side of the offensive line which also included losing Zach Banner for the season, both players silenced critics early and throughout the game. But when it comes specifically to Dotson, Steelers’ fans should be highly encouraged with the future at guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers if Sunday’s game against the Broncos was any indication.

Make sure you tune in to BTSC as there will be continual post-game breakdown of the Steelers 26–21 victory over the Denver Broncos, including the performance of Kevin Dotson.

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A quick look at the Steelers first home game without fans in the stadium during 2020 season.

Let’s get this Week 2 party started. I only wish it were December and Myron Cope was still with us. I always loved his ‘Deck the Broncos‘ version of Deck the Halls. I will say this, Heinz Field looks very odd without fans in it. I guess I will have to bring the noise all the way from my living room.

Nonetheless, a simple reminder, a knee jerk reaction is an immediate and unthinking, emotional reaction. It’s basically shooting first and apologizing later (forget that, I apologize for none of my emotion). I can safely say that’s a true definition of your’s truly and a good lot of Steelers’ Nation. Here’s my real-time (and possibly a little bit of my son Kyle’s) reactions during the Steelers’ chance at starting the 2020 season off with two straight wins.

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Quarter 1

• Steelers to kick off. I like starting with the defense on the field.
• I hate giving up 20 yards on the first play.
• First third down of the game. I thought they were off the field but that was a very late flag.
• Pressure by Devin Bush on that third down to cause the incompletion. Thankfully the D gets off the field.
• Nice return by Diontae Johnson after running into his own guy. Bring out the offense.
• Diontae catches the punt but manages to fumble the handoff on the first play from scrimmage. Are you kidding me? At least he recovered it himself.
• Is anyone surprised that Randy Fichtner’s offense went run, run, pass, punt on the first possession?
• The defensive line is getting blown off the ball right now. This is not looking good.
• Another big run. This defense better stiffen up.
• Got to hold on this third down.
• Watt and Dupree combined on the sack fumble recovered by the Steelers!!!!! Lock was not very secure with the football there.
• The Steelers need to turn that turnover into points.
• Kyle: “Hopefully this drive isn’t the double R double P”.
• Getting Ebron involved early. I like it.
• The Broncos knew we were going to run it there and James Conner still gets 12 yds.
• Big third down catch and run by JuJu. Keep that drive alive!
• James Conner touchdown!!! Turn that turnover into six.
• Lock out, headed to the locker room. Jeff Driskel in.
• Driskel made a nice completion, but he paid the price as Cam Heyward crushed him.
• The defense holds. Steelers have the ball back. Points here would be huge.
• How did the referees miss that face mask on Roethlisberger?
• That was a very ugly offensive series. And it looks like that will end the first quarter. 7-0 Steelers, but Broncos start in Steelers territory

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Quarter 2

• They’re picking on Edmunds. Shouldn’t be a surprise there.
• Big sack by Mike Hilton followed up by a tackle for a loss by Heyward. Third and forever.
• Hilton with another big play to foil a screen.
• Gave up a field goal, how will the offense respond.
• Diontae Johnson made up for that holding penalty with a nice play on first and 16.
• Drive stalls. At least Denver starts at their own 10-yard line this time.
• Had them third and long deep in their own territory, rush four and give up the first down. Geez Louise…..help the offense out would ya!!!
• A sack on third down. Wish we would have done that on the last 3rd down.
• A flag on the return I can’t believe it!!!! Didn’t need it. Take a return TD off the board. Really the zebras see that and call it but miss the face mask earlier on Ben?
• Ben to Claypool, deep route for the touchdown!!!!!!!!
• Wow, turn around and Joe Haden gives up the big pass play.
• Watt with pressure, Tyson Alualu finishes off the sack.
• 58-yard field goal attempt no good. Steelers still hold a 14-3 lead and get the ball back in good field position.
• When will Fichtner ever learn that a second and 18 draw play doesn’t fool anybody and leaves them with 3rd and 16.
• Nine yards on 3rd down is great, except they needed 16.
• Joe Haden with a pick off the tipped pass. Steelers in business under 2 minutes to play in the first half.
• Third and one at the two yard line and they lose a yard. A touchdown could have been huge here, instead Boswell trots out. 17-3 Steelers.
• WATT!!!!
• 17-3 good guys at the half. Steelers receive the second half kick off.

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Quarter 3

• Great return by Ray-Ray McCloud. Good starting field position.
• After an initial first down, offense loses yardage on the next two plays.
• Ben gets all day to throw on third down, and then throws a pick. The turnover streak continues.
• Is this an instant replay? Third and eight the Steelers rush four and give up a first down.
• Give up another third down completion. Go ahead and tack on a horse collar tackle. Steelers are imploding.
• Lucky to hold them to three there. 17 to 6 Steelers.
• A drop on first down, 2-yard pass on second down, leaves third and 8.
• A neutral zone infraction and a quick pass to Samuels complete for the first down.
• A couple more completions and now Ben is looking to be in a rhythm.
• Third and two pass was a telegraphed play, Denver had it snuffed out easily.
• Go for it on 4th down. That play didn’t look pretty, couldn’t tell if Ebron was held like he was claiming. Turnover on downs.
• And now the defense is letting them drive the ball. I am feeling a little less confident right now.
• Stupid penalty by Hilton there.
• Very next play give up a touchdown. I don’t know if the Steelers can win this game or not.
• Two-point conversion good. Devin Bush cannot cover Noah Fant. If that issue isn’t fixed, the Steelers will lose.
• Steelers 17 Broncos 14. End of three.

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Quarter 4

• Somebody get me some Tums or something. I am really nervous about this one.
• Steelers have got to stop throwing passes five yards behind the line iof scrimmage. You cannot gain enough yards that way.
• Lucky play there quick reaction by JuJu.
• Third down and nine, let’s throw it for seven yards.
• Thank God JuJu converts that forth down.
• Touchdown Diontae Johnson. Boy did they need that one.
• Defense did its job there. Held them deep. The offense will get the ball back in decent field position.
• Dropped the punt snap, got a safety and the Steelers get the ball back. Steelers 26 Broncos 14.
• Offense gets the ball back on the Broncos side of midfield.
• Handed off to Benny Snell and he fumbles it. Broncos recover in decent field position.
• Every time I think the Steelers have a chance to put it away, somebody messes it up.
• Get them with first and 20, and Joe Haden gives up 19 yards.
• There’s another flag for pass interference. Devin Bush is not having a good day.
• Third down and seven. Soft zone. Give up 15 yards.
• Steelers give up a touchdown on a pass to the RB. The Steelers just refuse to put this game away.
• Another ball batted down at the line of scrimmage. Ben has had several of those today.
• Diontae Johnson drops the third down pass.
• Now is the time for the defense. If they don’t step up here this could turn into a loss.
• 10 yard run on first down. As dominant is the defense looked last week they are not looking anything like it this week.
• Penalties are killing the secondary.
• Still picking on Devin Bush.
• Sack by Terrell Edmunds on the blitz on the 4th down play! Steelers take over.
• Big run by James Conner there. That should put the nail in the coffin.
• I love victory formation when the Steelers are the ones in the victory formation. Three, two, one, win! That wasn’t pretty, but it still goes into the W column.

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Once again, I just fired off what was going through my head at the time. All reactions were in real time. Basically, it is the equivalent of watching the game with me, you just don’t have to go to another room because I am screaming at the television. Now time process it, some quick analyzing for the Scho Bro Show, and then put it behind me as we move toward Week 3. Make sure you get your voice heard in the comments below.

Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos delivered a classic game at Heinz Field in Week 2.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos had a lot of similarities heading into the Week 2 matchup at Heinz Field. Both teams were working off a short week after Monday night games, and there were plenty of injuries across both rosters.

Nonetheless, while the Steelers were hoping to move their record to 2-0, the Broncos were just hoping to get their first win of the season after losing to the Tennessee Titans in Denver in Week 1.

It was the Steelers who won the opening coin toss and chose to defer their possession to the second half, giving Drew Lock and the Broncos’ offense the opening offensive possession. Even after the opening drive was aided by a Joe Haden pass interference call on third down, the Broncos were forced to punt on their first drive of the game.

Ben Roethlisberger and company took over at their own 20-yard line, but after a fumbled handoff by Dionate Johnson on the first play, it killed the drive before it even began. The result was a Dustin Colquitt punt after three plays.

The Broncos’ second drive was highlighted by some magnificent running by Melvin Gordon. After gashing the Steelers’ defense, Denver got away from the run and decided to throw the ball. It took only a few plays before T.J. Watt flushed Lock out of the pocket and Bud Dupree cleaned it up, causing a fumble which was recovered by Mike Hilton.

With the extra possession, Roethlisberger connected with Eric Ebron, JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington and quickly got the offense into field goal range. But the offense wasn’t settling for 3 points, and James Conner plunged into the end zone after a tough Smith-Schuster catch-and-run. The Chris Boswell point-after made the score 7-0 with 4:23 left in the first quarter.

On the sack by Dupree on the Broncos’ previous possession, Lock left the game with a shoulder injury and did not return for the next drive. With Jeff Driskel under center the offense sputtered and gave the ball back to the Steelers with 1:22 left in the quarter.

After a Steelers three-and-out, the Broncos started the second quarter with tremendous field position, and Driskel was able to do enough to get the Broncos on the board. The Brandon McManus 49-year field goal gave the Broncos their first points, making the score 7-3 with 12:07 left in the second quarter.

Pittsburgh had to settle with just flipping the field position game on their ensuing drive, giving the ball back to Driskel and the Broncos’ offense at their own 10-yard line. After one first down it was the Broncos punting the ball back to Roethlisberger and company.

The first play on the next possession was an 84-yard touchdown pass from Roethlisberger to rookie Chase Claypool for the second Steelers touchdown of the game.

The Boswell point-after was good, making the score 14-3 with 6:23 left in the half.

On the very next play Driskel delivered a deep pass of his own, but following the big play over Joe Haden the defense stiffened and moved the Broncos backwards. Denver attempted a 58-yard field goal by McManus, but it sailed wide right, giving Pittsburgh great field position following the miss.

A three-and-out resulted from the great field position, but it was a tipped ball on Driskel’s next pass which landed in the hands of Joe Haden for the Steelers’ second takeaway of the game.

The turnover didn’t result in a touchdown, but a Chris Boswell field goal making the score 17-3, and that score would hold as both teams went into halftime.

The Steelers received the kickoff to start the third quarter, and when it looked like Pittsburgh was, at worst, going to flip the field, Roethlisberger threw his first interception of the season, giving Denver hope.

With a short field, Driskel was able to move the Broncos into the red-zone, but failed to punch it in for a touchdown. Instead, they settled for another McManus field goal to make the score 17-6 with 8:00 left in the third quarter.

Following the field goal, both teams exchanged possessions, but Denver drew next blood when Driskel drove the offense down the field and hit Noah Fant for the Broncos’ first touchdown of the game. A successful two-point conversion made the score 17-14 with 1:07 left in the third quarter.

Desperately needing a drive, Roethlisberger delivered in a big way. After converting on a 4th and 2, Roethlisberger was flushed out of the pocket and hit Diontae Johnson in the end zone for the first points of the second half.

The Boswell point-after made it a two score game again, making it 24-14 with 11:25 left in regulation.

After the Broncos ran three plays for zero yards, Broncos punter Sam Martin bobbled the snap and was tackled in the end zone for a safety. With the score 26-14, and the Steelers with the ball again, the first play from scrimmage was a Benny Snell Jr. fumble giving the ball right back to Denver with 9:40 left to play in the fourth quarter.

Driskel and company would not give up, and proved so by driving down the field and adding to their point total. A beautiful pass to Melvin Gordon made it a one score game again, 26-21 with 7:43 left.

Pittsburgh failed to do anything with the ball on their next possession, and Driskel and company continued their hot second half by driving down the field and putting them in position to take the lead in the game. In the red-zone on 4th down Driskel was sacked by Terrell Edmunds to turn the ball over on downs.

Needing just a first down to end the game, James Conner broke off a huge run putting the Steelers in the red-zone and sealing the win for the Steelers.

The 26-21 win moves the Steelers’ record to 2-0 on the season as they prepare for the Houston Texans to visit Heinz Field in Week 3. Stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black-and-gold as they continue to roll through the 2020 regular season.