The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into their second game of the season this Sunday, hosting the New England Patriots in the home opener at Acrisure Stadium. The team is coming off of a riveting 23-20 overtime victory in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals. According to Sharp Football Analysis, Pittsburgh had the fourth toughest schedule entering the 2022 season. If Mike Tomlin's team wants to make a run to the postseason, it will be crucial to win games against less talented opponents. One bad loss could potentially damage the chances of the organization making it to the playoffs for a third straight season.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin on the field at Acrisure Stadium before a 2022 preseason game. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
There are no easy games in the NFL, but the three-game stretch coming up for the Steelers against the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns and New York Jets are all winnable games with two of them happening in Pittsburgh. No one expects this team to go undefeated, but starting the season with four wins in a row, and all of them in conference, could boost the playoff hopes for Tomlin and co.
The easier part of the schedule comes at an opportune times as the Steelers are likely to have star edge rusher, T.J. Watt back in mid to late October after he suffered a pectoral injury against the Bengals. The star-studded defense should be able to limit the offenses they will go up against the next few games. It's more than just handling teams that are all below the Steelers on ESPN's Week 2 power rankings, however.
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The offense is a work in progress and it has been that way since the first game of the preseason. The offensive line was reshaped throughout the off-season and the rushing attack only averaged 3.4 yards in the first game of the year. Although all games matter and nothing is a definite win, the next three matchups can be looked at as one last fine-tune up prior to the difficult schedule that lies ahead.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky (#10) drops back to throw during the first quarter of a Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 11 at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. (Cara Owsley-USA TODAY Sports)
All three phases of the game need to improve each week during the regular season, but the offense is at the top of that list. The upcoming opponents may not be expected to win a ton of games this year, but they all sit in the top 11 in total defense after last week. Showing steady signs of improvement will lead into a brutal seven-game stretch beginning with the Buffalo Bills on October 9th. The rest of the games line up as follows:
- Vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10/16)
- @ the Miami Dolphins (10/23)
- @ the Philadelphia Eagles (10/30)
- Vs. the New Orleans Saints
- Vs. the Bengals (11/20)
- @ the Indianapolis Colts (11/28)
The next three games are a crucial set of matchups for the Steelers. Building momentum, confidence and getting better as a unit on the field heading into October could make or break the team's season. Hoping for a 4-0 record is a bit greedy, but it is certainly doable given the competition. It starts this weekend against the Patriots, who are arguably the toughest of the three teams coming up on the schedule.
Do you think they results of the next three games will determine the outcome of the Steelers' 2022 season? Let us know in the comments below!
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