The Pittsburgh Steelers entered Week 2 against the Denver Broncos as favorites, but former Broncos guard and current NFL analyst Mark Schlereth saw things differently. Before the game, Schlereth predicted that Denver would beat Pittsburgh by two touchdowns.
Early on, the Steelers' offense showed promise. Justin Fields connected with tight end Darnell Washington for a touchdown, giving fans hope for a big offensive performance. However, the momentum didn't last, as Pittsburgh's offense sputtered in the second half. Despite the struggles, the Steelers' defense delivered yet another dominant performance, holding the Broncos to just six points.
Schlereth's message to Steeler Nation was clear: there’s still a lot of work ahead, and tougher challenges await. The irony in Schlereth's comments, however, is hard to miss. Just days before, he confidently predicted a Broncos blowout over the Steelers. Now, after the Steelers' win, he's backtracking, claiming Denver is in a rebuild with a rookie quarterback.
While Schlereth isn’t entirely wrong—Steelers fans shouldn’t be overly ecstatic about this victory—a win in the NFL is still a win. It’s a tough league, and even beating a struggling team is something to celebrate. Yes, the Broncos are going through challenges, but they’re far from being a pushover. In a league where every game is a battle, victories of any kind carry significance.
Steelers fans weren’t overly thrilled with how the win unfolded. Many hoped the offense would press on the gas and dominate, but instead, the game stayed uncomfortably close, which raised concerns. Still, a win is a win in the NFL.
It's also worth noting that the Steelers are dealing with adversity. This game against the Broncos was supposed to be a revenge matchup for their new quarterback, Russell Wilson, but a lingering calf injury sidelined him for the second straight week.
In his absence, Fields stepped up, delivering a respectable performance with 117 yards, one touchdown, and no turnovers. However, he continued to struggle with snaps, narrowly avoiding disaster as his team recovered a fumbled exchange. Despite the challenges, Fields managed to keep the offense afloat.
The Steelers' defense once again delivered a dominant performance. Despite Nix posing some concerns, Pittsburgh kept him in check. Nix completed 20 of 35 passes for 246 yards but threw two interceptions, showcasing the inconsistencies of a rookie performance.
Steelers Sit At First In The AFC North
In the end, the Steelers handled business on the road in Denver. While it wasn’t the convincing win many fans had hoped for, moving to 2-0 was crucial—especially with other AFC North teams struggling to find their footing. It may not have been a perfect game, but the Steelers continue to stay ahead in a competitive division. The Steelers are first in the AFC North.
Schlereth makes a fair point even though it's funny coming from him. The Steelers do have work to do. They aren't going to beat the top teams in this league if they can't figure out how to score more points. That's a fact. The Steelers have found ways to win ugly games as of late and they continue to do that. However, many fans are hoping for more from this offense still.
