By Cody Hatfield
The Pittsburgh Steelers started the 2022 NFL Season 2-6. They were with out their best player and reigning NFL DPOY Edge Rusher TJ Watt after tearing his pec muscle in an impressive Week 1 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Not only did they lose one of the best players in football, they were starting a season with out 2x Super Bowl Champion, QB Big Ben Roethlisberger, for the first time since 2004. It’s a new era in Pittsburgh and it’s not starting out the way they’d hoped.
After beating the Bengals, Steeler fans were excited to hear TJ Watt was only going to be out for 6-7 week. Big Ben’s replacement, Free Agent acquisition, Pro Bowl QB Mitch Trubisky, got the week 1 start and led the Steelers to a game winning FG in OT (forced by a Minka Fitzpatrick blocked FG at the end of regulation). They would then go on to lose two straight close games and by halftime in Week 4 against the NY Jets Coach Mike Tomlin had seen enough of Trubisky and announced that the 20th Overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft was starting the second half!
After losing that game and then winning 1 and losing 2 more it was finally Bye Week. And the players, Coaches and fans can finally get a break. During these 2 weeks, TJ Watt came back to practice, and Matt Canada simplified the Offensive Playbook. After that the Steelers and Kenny Picket had seemed to have figure out the keys to Winning close games. Going 7-2 in the last 9 games and barely missing the playoffs. Fans and the Organization had something they could build on and be excited about!
During the off-season. Steelers GM Omar Khan put together a masterful symphony of FA signings, Draft Trades and Picks. Signing Future Hall of Fame CB Patrick Peterson, Pro Bowl WR Allen Robinson, and extending ROLB Alex Highsmith to a 5 year $70 million contract in Free Agency. While Drafting OL Brodrick Jones, CB Joey Porter Jr, TE D. Washington, and LB Nick Herbig all in the the first three rounds. Headed into OTAs, and Training Camp in 2023 the feeling in Pittsburgh has been “We’re Back!”
After 2 Preseason Games, it looks and feels like The Pittsburgh Steelers were in deed “BACK”. Beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-17 with the starting Offense and Defense (with the exceptions of some key players) only playing 1 series but a very strong showing for both sides of the Ball. Week 2 same type of dominance. Starters played the whole first quarter basically. And the Steelers were up 14-0 within the first 5 mins of the game. 1st series Jaylen Warren rushed for an impressive 62 yard TD, the defense held Josh Allen and that high powered Bills offense to a 3 and out, then Calvin Austin III returned the punt 53 yards to the Steelers own 25 yard line. The very next play Pickett found TE Pat Freiermuth over the middle in the Endzone. After that Coach Tomlin had seen enough from his Offensive Starters and sat them. The Defense didn’t allow any points until the 4th quarter. The addition of Nick Herbig, and Veterans Marcus Golden, Kwon Alexander, and Cole Holcomb, the steelers revamped LB depth has been putting its self on display. Herbig having two great games with 7 ToT and 2.5 sacks this preseason.
I believe this is the season the Pittsburgh Steelers do what they do best and prove a lot of very smart football analysts very wrong and go 11-6 making the playoffs.
Bold Prediction: the Pittsburgh Steelers will finish 11-6, second in the AFC North, be the 5th seed in the playoffs, have a top 12 Offense and top 3 defense. Losing in the divisional round to the KC Chiefs.