EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Pittsburgh Steelers walked into New York expecting a slugfest that could work in their favor as they reworked their entire defense to stop the run.
The Baltimore Ravens ran for 299 rushing yards against them in a 28-14 thrashing in the Wild Card Round, spurring the Steelers to change their fortunes.
Their entire draft strategy showcased that very thing. The Steelers drafted Derrick Harmon in the first round, Jack Sawyer in the fourth round, and Yahya Black in the fifth round. Head coach Mike Tomlin noted multiple times that the team felt they had to ‘retool their physicality’ throughout the offseason.
If that is what they wanted to do, their Week 1 game against the Jets could not have been further from what they wanted to happen.
The positive is that Aaron Rodgers looked excellent and diced the Jets up through the air. Pittsburgh’s passing attack diced the Jets’ secondary up through the air to the tune of four touchdowns and an efficient day for Rodgers on all fronts.
However, the Jets still ran the ball at will against the Steelers and largely controlled the point of attack on both sides of the football. They averaged 4.7 yards per carry, and the Jets controlled the offensive line for the Steelers, too, making Rodgers uncomfortable.
The Steelers won 34-32, and that is great, but the cracks beneath the surface will break this team if they can not rise above their struggles in the trenches. This year relies on their trench play, and they need much better trench play to win in the future.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.