3 days Ago By Brogan Noey, Steeler Nation
The Pittsburgh Steelers now have an impressive 2-0 record to start the 2024 season after capturing a 13-6 victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday. For a team that had so many questions surrounding them ahead of the season, they have been able to take care of business so far after two road contests. As usual, it has been the defense carrying the team to victory, but the offense has looked efficient and has done a good job keeping the ball out of harm's way.
Pittsburgh's offense only managed to muster up 13 points in the win, but the defense was the definition of dominant. The Broncos struggled to get anything going offensively, and the Steelers managed to pick off Bo Nix twice. The defense has historically been the stronger of the two units in the Steel City, and through two games in the 2024 season, they have only given up 16 points.
Former Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger thinks the defense can carry the team far, which he spoke about on the most recent episode of his podcast, Footbahlin With Ben Roethlisberger . "It was to me, a total domination by the defense. All parts of it, top to bottom, side to side.
The Steelers will go far with this defense; all you have to do is have a competent offense that doesn't turn the ball over, which we saw again." Pittsburgh has met the exact formula that Roethlisberger described. It is a typical game plan for Head Coach Mike Tomlin .
Through two games, the offense hasn't turned the ball over, and more importantly, they have proven they can eat up clock with their scheme. On Pittsburgh's touchdown drive on Sunday, they were able to eat up seven and a half minutes of the clock. This is a big factor, as they gave their defense time to recover and put points on the board.
Every game won't go the way it did Sunday. Eventually, Justin Fields and the offense will turn the ball over, it is just part of the game. The defense will have an off day as well, but it is important the other side of the ball can make plays to lift them up.
Pittsburgh has a clear winning formula that they have been able to execute over the last two weeks, and Roethlisberger believes it can lead them to great places. "This offense, if you put this offense, what we saw today, with the defense we saw today - watch out. And again, I got to be careful because it's Denver, but no, it's what I saw.
" Denver didn't have very high expectations going into the 2024 season, especially with a rookie quarterback at the helm. It was a game the Steelers were supposed to win. The same can probably be said about the Atlanta Falcons, who the Steelers took down in Week 1, but Atlanta has a ton of offensive weapons and impressive new additions on defense.
It was a game Pittsburgh could have easily choked away, but they followed the game plan and executed at a high level. Steelers' New Defensive Additions Have Been Making An Impact Pittsburgh made some splashes during the offseason on the defensive side of the ball, which included signing Patrick Queen and DeShon Elliott , and trading for Donte Jackson. Both Jackson and Elliott came up big in the Week 1 contest, as each player recorded an interception.
Queen has been the athletic linebacker the Steelers have been searching for, as he has been able to make tackles going from sideline to sideline. The Steelers also have the usual contributors of TJ Watt , Alex Highsmith, Joey Porter Jr. and Minkah Fitzpatrick .
All four of them have been playing like the elite players they are, and Cam Heyward looks to be back to his old self now that he is fully healthy. Pittsburgh's defense is one of the best in the league, and Roethlisberger believes it can lead them to a successful season. Do you agree with Roethlisberger? This article first appeared on SteelerNation.
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