After an 18-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1, in which the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense pitched a second-half shutout, the team has shifted its focus to the Denver Broncos. TJ Watt put on a brilliant defensive display in Atlanta, and with rookie quarterback Bo Nix on the menu, the defense will be looking to wreck Denver’s 2024 home opener.
Watt Could Wreck Nix’s Day
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Pittsburgh waited until the last minute to rule out veteran quarterback Russell Wilson for Week 1, opening the door for Justin Fields to get his first start in black and gold. The Steelers’ first game with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was efficient, but the offense could not get into the endzone despite coming away with a victory. All 18 points came off the foot of Chris Boswell, including three field goals from beyond fifty yards, but the reason the Steelers are 1-0 is a tremendous game from a stifling defense.
The Steelers Defense Has Momentum
Watt has been arguably the best defensive player in the league since he was drafted in 2017, but the former Defensive Player of the Year feels like the 2024 roster has the right pieces to compete among the elite teams in the NFL. On Sunday in Atlanta, the defense proved why the Steelers invested more money in that side of the football than any other team, holding the $180-million Kirk Cousins and the Falcons’ offense to ten points, all in the first half.
Pittsburgh’s defense won’t be facing a veteran passer in its Week 2 road test against the Broncos, with rookie Nix hoping for a better outing than he had in his NFL debut. Watt was a constant menace against the Falcons despite having two strip sacks taken away by a highly controversial officiating crew. Denver’s offense is in transition and struggled to find any rhythm in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks. Watt and his defense seem poised to take advantage of a shaky offense that unsuccessfully leaned on its rookie passer in an opening-day loss.
Secondary Gaining Confidence Quickly
While the Steelers came into the 2024 regular season with one of the strongest defensive front seven in a decade, there were questions about whether the secondary would hold down its end of the bargain. 2023 became a chaotic mess with Patrick Peterson succumbing to age, Minkah Fitzpatrick having to play out of position to pick up the slack, and injuries striking at the worst possible times. Pittsburgh traded for Donte Jackson, signed DeShon Elliot, and brought in undrafted free agent Beanie Bishop Jr. to bring some balance to the defense.
With Watt, Heyward, and company bringing constant pressure up front, Jackson and Elliot each intercepted Cousins in their first game with Pittsburgh. Second-year star Joey Porter Jr. locked down Drake London with two catches for 15 yards. Overall, a secondary that had quite a bit to prove will go into Denver with a ton of confidence. If the Steelers can find continued cohesion throughout the defense, it could be a very long game for the Broncos’ first home game of 2024.
Final Thoughts
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has a career record of 24-6 against rookie quarterbacks. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin called an excellent game against the Falcons, and that successful approach should continue when Pittsburgh travels to Denver in Week 2. Nix threw the ball 42 times for a paltry 138 yards and two interceptions in the Broncos’ Week 1 loss to the Seahawks, yet somehow, the rookie was also the team’s leading rusher with 35 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown. If Nix is forced into carrying that much of the offensive burden against the Steelers, Tomlin’s dominance against rookies should continue.
Watt is only 2.5 sacks away from 100 in his career, which would be faster than anyone in NFL history not named Reggie White. Nix was only sacked twice against Seattle, but the Steelers boast a much more dangerous defense, not to mention that Watt can wreck a game at any moment. The Steelers have the most challenging 2024 schedule in the league, so a fast start is imperative. With Watt, a confident secondary, and a hungry defensive unit, the stage is set for Pittsburgh to emerge from Week 2 still undefeated.
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