By: Michael Stiffler, @Stiffeezy_ on Twitter
SteelerNation.com
It feels like every season the Pittsburgh Steelers experience a big let down to an unexpected team. Some team, no matter how talented the Steelers roster is, will struggle and inevitability lose. Let’s leave 2019 out of the equation since Ben Roethlisberger was out for the season, in recent memory you could look back to 2018 and see the games against the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders. Further back, look at the 2017 game against the Chicago Bears. It has become a yearly tradition that has haunted Steelers fans for years. It was one reason some of the Steelers faithful fans started to question Mike Tomlin as a head coach.
“Does he coach too much on emotion?”“When will his team button it up?”
“Is Tomlin on the hot seat?"
These were sentiments heard across sport shows nationwide and I hate to break the news to you, but 2020 might just continue that trend.
Week 11 @ Jacksonville
Pittsburgh wouldn’t be faulted to overlook the underwhelming Jacksonville Jaguars. A team who just traded away Super Bowl Champion Nick Foles, who they just paid top dollar for in 2019, for a bag of peanuts. Top players like running back Leonard Fournette and defensive end Yannick Ngakoue are both on the trading block and want a fresh start. The Jaguars are also predicted to be the top pick in the 2021 draft, so the idea “Tank for Trevor” might be in their plans as well. The Jaguars seem to be in the same boat the Miami Dolphins were in a year ago.
While that may ease some of the nerves about this game, the Steelers will go from playing the division rival Cincinnati Bengals in Week 10 at home, travel to Jacksonville in Week 11, then they head back home for a Thanksgiving night match-up with the division rival Baltimore Ravens. THAT is the biggest concern on why this match-up has the recipe for disaster. Two highly emotional, highly important division games, with a “cake walk” in the middle. It will be easy to overlook the Jaguars, while looking ahead to what could be a battle for the division title against Baltimore. Also, with a shortened week, that does not do the Steelers any favors to game plan for the Ravens.
On top of the divisional match-ups, Jacksonville has always been a thorn in Pittsburgh's side. Whatever it is about the Jaguars, the Steelers always have a tough time. Nightmares about Blake Bortles and Fournette shredding them in the 2017 season. Rashean Mathis with a pick-six. They find a way to give the Steelers fits and 2020 may not be any different since the fearless Gardner Minshew will try to show the front office he is worthy as the Jaguars franchise quarterback. Minshew doesn’t lack weapons either, DJ Chark, who is a top up and coming receiver, Fournette is still there and has GASHED the Steelers in seasons prior. Tyler Eifert, the oft injured but widely talented tight end gets a second chance in Jacksonville. The Steelers could have their hands full.
It may be the PTSD I have of all the disappointments versus Jacksonville, but this game scares the hell out of me. In a division with the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns, where every game matters for the division race, the Steelers can’t afford to get caught sleeping.
What match-up are you dreading this year? Drop a comment below!
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