The Steelers Offense Was So Bad In The First Half That A 49ers Superstar Was Begging Them To Get A First Down

The Pittsburgh Steelers had one of their worst and most embarrassing season openers in recent memory in Week 1 of the 2023 season against the San Francisco 49ers. To make matters worse, it was the team's first season opener at home since the 2014 season, and the offense didn't show up until it was too late as well into the second quarter, they had just one positive yard. 

49ers Were Begging The Steelers To Get A First Down

The Steelers offense started the game in disastrous fashion. Going three-and-out on their very first drive, and Kenny Pickett threw an interception on a ball that was thrown late to a falling Diontae Johnson on their second drive of the game. Everyone could tell it was going to be a long day for the offense, and they were no match for the 49ers upper-echelon defense. The Steelers were unable to gain a first down until their last drive of the first half, on which they scored. 49ers left tackle, Trent Williams, told the San Francisco Chronicle that the San Francisco offense was begging for the Steelers to succeed. 

"At one point, you just kind of wanted the Steelers to get a first down. There were all those three-and-outs and we kind of needed a break."

The Steelers' first five drives included four punts, one interception, and zero first downs. The 49ers offense dominated the time of possession, and were consistently winning the field position battle since Pittsburgh couldn't move the ball at all. Pittsburgh's defense was able to step up on some of the 49ers first half possessions, holding them to two field goals and only allowing them to score 20 points when they had the opportunity to score 28. 

After having such a great preseason, winning every game in dominating fashion, a lot more was expected out of the Steelers offense going into the 2023 season. Pickett finished the preseason with a perfect quarterback rating of 158.3 and was expected to take a major leap in his second season. After his performance in Week 1, it seems he has a lot of work to do to get to where he wants to be. 

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, though. The Steelers were faced with a tall task in Week 1. San Francisco was the runner up in the NFC in 2022 and has been one of the best teams in the league over the last few years, making it to the Super Bowl in 2019. It seemed as though their star pass rusher and reigning NFL Defensive Player Of The Year, Nick Bosa, would not be available for the game since he was amidst a contract negotiation with San Francisco and was holding out through all of training camp. But unfortunately for the Steelers, he signed a new deal with the 49ers just four days before the game, making him available to be a force in the Week 1 contest. 

After playing the best of the best defensively the NFL has to offer, hopefully Pickett and the offense can get back on the right foot in Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football. Pickett is 1-0 against Cleveland, winning the Week 18 contest in 2022 by a score of 28-14. If Pickett can get back on the right track in Week 2, and Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada finds a way to make his offense competitive and efficient, fans will be able to look at the rest of the 2023 season with some optimism. 

Until then, the embarrassing loss to San Francisco will leave a sour taste in the mouths of all Steelers fans. The lack of offense and poor performance from Pickett will linger in the back of everyone's minds, and the anger and tension aimed at Canada will rise. Hopefully this team finds a way to turn the season around after such a poor start. 

What do you think of Williams' remarks? Let us know in the comments below!

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