The Pittsburgh Steelers advanced to 2-0 for the first time since 2020 on Sunday, defeating the Denver Broncos 13-6. The Steelers yet again relied on a strong defensive effort to get the victory, holding the Broncos scoreless for the game's first three quarters, and only conceding two field goals by Will Lutz in the fourth. The game may have been far from perfect, but heading into Sunday night, the Steelers are one of four teams in the AFC to remain perfect through the first two weeks of the season.
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Steelers Darnell Washington catches his first career touchdown against the Denver Broncos.
Though the defense was a bright spot, the offense was a tale of two halves. After 189 yards, 13 first downs, and the team's first touchdown of the season in the first half, the Steelers were held to 62 yards total in the final 30 minutes. Pittsburgh was unable to find momentum after being flagged several times, and was made uncomfortable by a good Broncos defense.
Justin Fields received his second straight start with Russell Wilson still recovering from a lingering calf injury, and is projected to get the start against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3. The matchup against Denver was meant to be a revenge game for the Wilson after he was cut by the team in March. In spite of Wilson being on the bench, Fields talked after the game about the team's desire to help Wilson get revenge on his former team.
"Yeah, I think we all know Russ got [done] kind of dirty last year. So, I know he wished that he could've played today in this game, but it's awesome getting a win for him, he got a petty game ball; it's great getting a dub for Russ."
Wilson was projected to be the starter in the Steel City entering into the 2024 season, but has been unable to show off his true potential for the team due to injury. This has allowed Fields to see game time, and earn an opportunity to win the starting job without Wilson getting a chance.
It's quite possible that Wilson will earn at least some snaps during regular season action, but the longer Fields starts while guiding the Steelers to victory, the harder it will be for Head Coach Mike Tomlin to give Wilson an opportunity.
The Steelers Have Several Tough Decisions To Make Offensively
The list of tough questions for the Steelers continues to grow. Initially, the questions circled around who would be the starting quarterback, and who would be the team's number two wide receiver. Though the latter still partially remains true until rookie Roman Wilson gets an opportunity to make his case, the quarterback controversy continues to stir around the Steelers' locker room.
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Steelers quarterbacks Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Kyle Allen participating in voluntary offseason workouts.
Despite Fields' success, there is still uncertainty as to who will be the starting quarterback in a world where everyone on the roster is healthy. Fields has done well through two games, but has yet to truly set himself apart as a franchise signal-caller. It's still reasonable to want to see Wilson perform, but a divide in the locker room can be disastrous during this all-important beginning of the season.
On top of the problem under center, the Steelers were dealt another question in starting tackle Broderick Jones, who was benched midway through his lone series on Sunday. Jones has had his work ethic questioned several times throughout training camp and early in the season, but with Troy Fautanu playing effectively in Denver, the question of who starts opposite Dan Moore Jr. is beginning to be asked.
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Offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. runs out of the tunnel before a Pittsburgh Steelers game.
At the end of the day, the Steelers are 2-0, and have achieved victory in two hostile road environments. Yet, there remains a feeling that the team is incomplete and leaving something to be desired. Early on, Tomlin may be able to live with these questions and problems, but the clock is ticking.
Eventually, the black and gold will need to commit to a finalized depth chart and let the chemistry build. Whomever the Steelers start will have massive expectations set upon them, but for now, Fields and the Steelers will need to prepare for an undefeated Los Angeles Chargers team.
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