The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the more storied franchises in NFL history and the deep tradition associated with the team means a great deal to the entire fan base. Whether it was the legendary squads of the 1970s or the modern-day Super Bowl trips, it isn't hard to get a Steelers fan to start going on about everything the organization has accomplished. After one week of the 2023 season, though, the current version of the Steelers doesn't seem to be living up to the past, something that Colin Cowherd has noticed, and he wants the fan base to as well.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Kenny Pickett needs to be a key part of righting the 2023 Steelers following the Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers
Steelers Teetering On The Edge Of A Dangerous 0-2
Cowherd is known for being outspoken regardless of the opinion he holds, but when it comes to the Steelers, he tends to hold that microscope a bit closer. While losing the 2023 opener to the San Francisco 49ers isn't an absolute reason for anyone to panic, Cowherd said on The Herd on Friday that an 0-2 start would spell impending doom for the 2023 Pittsburgh squad.
Ahead of their Monday Night Football matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Cowherd sees this Week 2 matchup of the 2023 season to be an early barometer for exactly what kind of Steelers team exists. The 30-7 shellacking that the 49ers dropped on the Steelers sent waves through Pittsburgh, but everyone knows things can change from week to week in the blink of an eye. To open the 2023 season with back-to-back home losses, though? That would be a reason for real worry, something Cowherd warns Steelers fans about.
"If the Steelers lose, here's their reality; 0-2, both losses at home, fourth-best quarterback in their division. That's their reality."
Cowherd's statement may seem bleak, but after the Steelers hype reached atmospheric levels during the 2023 preseason, this kind of implosion wasn't just unexpected; it's a full face plant. The Monday Night Football divisional Week 2 game against the Browns gives the Steelers the perfect setting to put the opening day loss behind them.
Although, on the other side of the ball is a Browns team that invested heavily in their controversial quarterback and opened their season by shutting down the Cincinnati Bengals. As perfect a chance as it would be for the Steelers to right the ship, everyone in Cleveland sees it as a chance to sink the Pittsburgh hopes before they have a chance to even start. It isn't bleak, it's the reality that the Steelers find themselves in, and the only way to get out from under it is to start winning.
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Steelers rival Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb wants to have a say in the result of the 2023 Week 2 matchup
Steelers History Has No Bearing On 2023, Says Cowherd
Hall of Fame members, Super Bowl trophies, AFC Championship appearances, and division titles; these are all proud points for any Steelers fan. The history surrounding the team is something that saturates the entire city, but in 2023 it can't be relied on to save a shaky squad. Cowherd implored the Steelers fan base on Friday to put their history aside and focus on what needs to be now rather than what was won in the past.
"If you're a Steelers fan, forget your history. Nobody cares. Forget your history. What are you today? A defensive culture in an offensive league, never great but never terrible, and you pride yourself on loyalty and continuity. You sound like a well-run business without any upside."
That's certainly a scathing review of the Steelers faithful being enamored with the teams and championships of the past, but there is truth within it, unfortunately. Looking back isn't going to help the 2023 Steelers or the challenges they are already facing. With the matchup against the Browns coming up on Monday, the focus needs to be righting the 2023 ship.
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Steelers Wide Receiver George Pickens will need to pick up the slack with Diontae Johnson out for several weeks in 2023
Now, if there is a way for the 2023 Steelers to find a way to use the lore of the past to their advantage, utilize every single bit of it. There is a big difference between pining over days gone by and seeking inspiration in your past. If the Steelers can tell the difference between the two and use the Steelers of the past as a muse for the present, perhaps we will start to see the fire and grit we all expect from this team. The reality is, though, that 0-2 is dangerously close, and with all the hope and promise that led the squad into 2023, it's time for this team to make their own history.
Will the Steelers avoid 0-2 by beating the Browns on Monday?
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