We are approaching another NFL Sunday and the Pittsburgh Steelers will host the New England Patriots in the 2022 season home opener. The teams last met in New England the first week of 2019 and the Patriots won in dominating fashion, bettering the Steelers 33-3. Nothing is perfect and fully fine-tuned for any teams this early in the year and aside from winning football games, getting better as a unit is one of the most important parts of competing at this stage. Let's dive into a couple concepts to buy and others to sell for the Week 2 conference matchup.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back, Najee Harris (#22) participates in 2022 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. | Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO
1.) The Steelers Will Run The Ball More In Week 2
Offensive coordinator, Matt Canada was quoted Thursday saying that he likes "some of those two-yard gains." Well if that's truly the case, he is going to love calling running plays against the Patriots' defense that only allowed 65 rushing yards and held the Miami Dolphins to 2.8 yards per carry in Week 1. All jokes aside, Canada has displayed a pattern in his time as the play caller. If the run doesn't work early, abandon it.
Even though he said on Thursday that they need to run the football more, it's hard to believe that happens when he doesn't seem to trust his offensive line and Najee Harris has been struggling with injuries since early in the preseason. The recipe for success isn't for Mitch Trubisky to throw the ball 38 times like he did last weekend, but we may be seeing it again on Sunday.
Analysis: Sell
2.) Rookie Wide Receiver George Pickens Will Be More Involved This Week
Pickens was pretty much a no-show in his first regular season game. He only had one catch that went for three yards and was targeted just three times. In the preseason, the rookie showed flashes of potentially turning into a superstar early in the season. At 6'3", 200 pounds, Pickens is going to have the ability to win plenty of jump balls and physically bully opposing cornerbacks. One bad week isn't going to change that.
Steelers rookie wide receiver, George Pickens (#14) warms up at Acrisure Stadium prior to a 2022 preseason game. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Diontae Johnson and Pat Freiermuth got 22 of the 37 targets from Trubisky last Sunday and that is likely to change. A successful offense can't be built around just two pass catchers. Part of making the underwhelming offense more competitive will be getting Pickens the ball and if they continue to stay away from the run game, the rookie wide receiver is the next guy to make a difference.
Analysis: Buy
3.) The Defense Will Struggle Without T.J. Watt On The Field
It is definitely going to be an adjustment with the reigning AP Defensive Player of the Year not on the field for the defense. Will the unit struggle? That's hard to believe given the superstar talent they still have on that side of the ball. Minkah Fitzpatrick is coming off an incredible game that won him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors and Cameron Heyward wreaked havoc as usual. Pair those two with Alex Highsmith, Tyson Alualu, Myles Jack and an improving Devin Bush and you come up with a solid group.
It will be a transition not relying on the dominating performance of Watt the next six weeks or so, but if there is any group that has the ability to bridge the gap during his absence, it's this one. There is no replacing Watt and his nature of play, but this defense and the talent surrounding it is way too deep to take a significant step down, even with the best player out due to injury.
Analysis: Sell
4.) The Steelers Will Begin The Season 2-0
The Patriots, and Bill Belichick in particular have had Mike Tomlin's number over the years. Belichick has an 8-3 career record against Tomlin. This will be the first time the two teams face off without Tom Brady on the field, however. It's going to come down to the defense for the Steelers halting the rushing attack that the Patriots have. New England had a poor performance all the way around against the Miami Dolphins in Week 1, but their ability to run the football could be the difference maker.
New England Patriots head coach, Bill Belichick (left) shakes hands with Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin (right). | Credit: Associated Press
With that said, the Steelers defense has the ability to make it extremely hard on the offense for New England. Mac Jones is nursing back spasms and missed practice on Thursday with a stomach bug. This is going to be an ugly game and it shouldn't shock many if neither team gets into the 20's, but the defense for Pittsburgh and healthy nature of the team aside from Watt will be the difference in end. Steelers win, 20-16.
Analysis: Buy
What are you buying and selling heading into Week 2 of the regular season? Let us know in the comments below!
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