There are two ways to look at the Pittsburgh Steelers season opener against the San Francisco 49ers. If the Steelers lose to the Niners, it will be long forgotten. On paper, the Niners are a better team so while pundits might wonder what happened, in the big picture this game won’t carry a ton of weight.
But if the Steelers win, it’s a statement. A team that completely rebuilt its roster over the last two years, notorious for slow starts going out in the first week of the season and beating one of the top teams in the NFC? That would be the type of win to give Pittsburgh momentum for the rest of the season.
Buy Steelers TicketsHere are the Steelers four keys to victory.
Will Pickett be Kenough?
If the Steelers want to win this game, they have to create balance on offense with the run and the pass. Don’t force Kenny Pickett to drop back 35-40 times with Niners EDGE Nick Bosa coming at him. There will be a time when Pickett can carry this offense but don’t make it be this week.
Manage Christian McCaffrey
It’s not about holding dynamic San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey to a minimal game. It is all about not letting him turn mundane plays into back-breaking splash plays.
Fast out of the gates on defense
The Steelers pass rush has a chance to be the best it has ever been with the talent on the roster. Pittsburgh must come out of the gate fast, hitting Niners Brock Purdy right off the bat and letting him know what kind of day he is in for.
Win on special teams
Lost in all the preseason hype has been how good the return and coverage teams have been in the preseason. Head coach Mike Tomlin has always emphasized how important all three phases are and in a matchup like this, it could come down to a field goal or a big return to win the game.
