After getting thoroughly embarrassed by the Arizona Cardinals last week, the Pittsburgh Steelers will look to get back on track in a short week, as they welcome the New England Patriots into Acrisure Stadium to open up week 14 of the NFL season that seems to be dwindling so fast.
This game should be one the Steelers feel very confident about but after last week, confidence seems to be the worst drug they have at the Steelers facility, as multiple players said they overlooked the Cardinals last week, something you can never do in this league.
Injuries Pile Up For The Steelers
Not only did the Steelers get embarrassed in the game last week, but they got banged up too. The worst kind of game. Nothing went right for Pittsburgh, including losing Starting Quarterback Kenny Pickett to an ankle injury that required tightrope surgery the next morning. Head Coach Mike Tomlin refrained from putting a timetable on Pickett’s return, but he is yet to land on the Injured Reserve, which is always a good sign.
Elandon Roberts was seemingly the last man standing in the Inside Linebackers’ room after the Kwon Alexander and Cole Holcomb injuries. Now Roberts finds himself banged up with a groin injury and is questionable for the Thursday night matchup with New England. Isaac Seumalo also injured his shoulder in the Cardinals game but has been a limited participant in practice, hopefully good to go. TJ Watt also did something to his ankle during the game, but it may not be too serious as nothing has come out about it.
Steelers Must Handle Business Down The Stretch
If there is one thing we know about the Steelers, or Pittsburgh sports in general, they love playing down to the opponent’s level. Inferior competition is the city of Pittsburgh’s worst fear. The Steelers need to leave that in the past. This new era of Steelers has to find a way to handle their business. It won’t be easy without Pickett at the helm, but Trubisky is paid like a top backup in the NFL, it’s time to play like it.
Trubisky came in last week for the injured Pickett and finished the game 11 for 17 with 117 passing yards and a touchdown. He wasn’t bad, but now he will be asked to carry more water. Thursday Night Football. Mitch Trubisky versus Bailey Zappe. Absolute cinema on Amazon.
With no clue when Pickett will be ready to return, Trubisky will get to face a weird schedule with some winnable games. This week against the Patriots, then following games against the Gardner Minshew-led Colts, the Jake Browning Bengals, and the Seahawks, with Pickett hopefully back by the final week of the season in a game that could mean a lot to the Steelers, against the Baltimore Ravens.
Chance At Redemption For Trubisky
Mitch Trubisky has always kind of gotten a bad stigma in Pittsburgh, pailing in comparison to the kid from Pitt, and having him take your job can’t be easy, but Trubisky has handled everything very well when he could’ve reacted very differently. Trubisky is a pro. His problem when he was the starting quarterback was his inability to push the ball downfield. He took no chances as he felt Pickett breathing down his neck, ready to take his job.
Now Trubisky gets a chance to play free. What does he have to lose? Nobody is expecting him to light the world on fire. Just play. The Steelers will need Trubisky to get something going as the Patriots have been great against the run recently, and Najee Harris popped up on the injury report this week. Be yourself Mitch, play free, and go get some wins.
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