Five Takeaways From The Steelers Week Two Win
It wasn’t pretty, but the Steelers handled business in Denver in week two to improve to a 2-0 record to start the 2024 season. They still are the leader of the AFC North although the Browns won this week to close the gap by a tad. Pittsburgh didn’t trail at any point in the game but still managed to sweat it out in the second half. Here’s what Steelers nation learned on the way to 2-0.
5. Flags Almost Killed the Steelers
The mass amount of penalties that Pittsburgh took was almost enough to nullify a victory. Luckily it wasn’t, but it still needs to be cleaned up. Broderick Jones took two drive-crippling penalties with one erasing a 51 yard George Pickens reception that would have put Pittsburgh inside the 10-yard line. Unfortunately, Pickens and Justin Fields have now had two of the nicest plays of the season wiped away by flags.
4. Tight Ends Led The Way
The Steelers’ tight end room led the way for them in week two. Pat Freiermuth led the team in receiving with four receptions for 39 yards. While that’s not ideal, it’s nice to see Freiermuth get active in the passing game. He posted four receptions for 27 yards in week one and is still looking for his first endzone trip of the season.
On the other hand, Darnell Washington only caught one pass for five yards, but it was the Steelers’ lone touchdown on the day and ended up being the deciding factor. It was the first touchdown of Washington’s career and his usage already seems to be on a better track than last season. In 2023 he made seven cates for 61 yards. This season he is already on track to improve those numbers.
3. Same Old Steelers
It is a tale as old as time, the Steelers let the Broncos hang around until the final whistle. In a game that felt like Pittsburgh’s all the way, it’s never the reality. All Pittsburgh teams do it. They just can’t find a way to put teams away and step on the throat when they need to. For some reason, it’s just engrained in the city’s DNA. Luckily, the Steelers were able to hold on to this one but that won’t work against better competition.
2. The Steelers Still Need A WR2
Anybody with two working eyes can tell that George Pickens is a star in the making, but he can’t do it alone. He had potentially the best game of all time for a player who only had 29 receiving yards. Pickens had one of the best cornerbacks in the league, Patrick Surtain in a blender all day but walked away with very little to show for it.
Pittsburgh needs a guy to pair with Pickens desperately. Michael Thomas and Hunter Renfrow are still unemployed and could be worth the small risk. Tyler Lockett could be a trade target with Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s emergence in Seattle. Something has to be done, and fast.
1. Steelers’ Defense Is Legit
Many Steelers fans already knew this, but the Steelers’ defense is legit this year. They haven’t played the highest level of competition, but you can still say they’re an elite unit. The addition of Donte Jackson and DeShon Elliott has already paid dividends for Pittsburgh, with each of them having an interception already this season.
Week two was much of the same for Pittsburgh. TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith each registered two tackles for loss and a sack. Elliott made nine total tackles with four being solo and a tackle for loss. Jackson also registered a tackle for loss. Second-year cornerback Cory Trice grabbed his first career interception and Damontae Kazee got one to seal the game. This unit is different.
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