This week, the Pittsburgh Steelers hope to put the past behind them and usher in a new era on offense with Matt Canada out and Eddie Faulkner in. First up is the struggling Cincinnati Bengals. If Pittsburgh has any hope of making the playoffs, they have to find a way past the Bengals and get back on track.
Stopping Joe Mixon is Job One
No matter who is playing quarterback, running back Joe Mixon remains an elite talent. He’s the kind of play who doesn’t need an elite passing game to be successful and the Steelers defense hasn’t been great against top backs this season.
Focus on small changes on offense
No one expects the Steelers offense to be unrecognizable on Sunday. But we do expect to see some small changes. Changes in how deliberate and intentional they are with motion and shifts, throwing to the middle of the field and making Kenny Pickett’s job easier.
Dress up the pass rush
Pittsburgh seems to have fallen into a rut when it comes to rushing the passer and gone are the days of exotic rushes and not knowing where pressure would come from. Even players like T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith are being neutralized by middling players and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin needs to step up his game.
Do the good stuff right
There are a lot of things the Steelers have been doing right this season like running the football, taking care of the football and forcing turnovers. These things must continue in addition to showing improvement in the areas that are really holding this team back.
