Week 2 left the Pittsburgh Steelers with a lot to clean up and very little on offense to feel good about. They finished with only 235 total yards, and 75 of them came when the game was already slipping away late in the fourth quarter. The defense kept the score respectable for stretches, but the overall product against the Patriots was a rough one.
Aaron Rodgers was stuck in the middle of it all, trying to work behind an offensive line that never gave him much comfort and throwing to a top target who has piled up more drops than catches so far this season. Jarrett Bailey pointed out that Rodgers would probably look better behind the Broncos’ offensive line, even if he still wouldn’t be flawless.
Still, the numbers are ugly: he sits 31st in EPA per play, and his success rate when pressured ranks 24th. Joey Bray was even harsher, noting that Rodgers’ -42.12 EPA through two weeks is the worst mark of any quarterback in the NFL.
The offense, in his words, is simply not watchable right now. Rodgers may not be the biggest problem, but he didn’t do much to lift it either.
The line in front of him drew even sharper criticism. Spencer Anderson allowed seven pressures, more than any other right guard in the league in Week 2, and Dylan Cook has looked dreadful across the first two games.
Bailey called for Max Iheanachor and Brock Hoffman/Gennings Dunker to get starting nods in Week 3, adding that if Dunker doesn’t start, he should at least get a helmet over Anderson. Bray also wanted changes on the right side, saying the unit needs wholesale changes at minimum.
He singled out Cook’s lack of growth, mentioned Iheanachor waiting on the bench, and said Zach Frazier and Troy Fautanu didn’t look particularly great either. The right side, both writers made clear, is a problem that needs fixing now.
DK Metcalf’s start has been just as rough. Through two games, he has eight catches for 67 yards while making $33 million per year.
Bailey didn’t sugarcoat it, calling it sad and saying that if 2026 is another disappointment, the Steelers should be willing to absorb the $36 million dead cap hit in 2027 and move on. Bray took a slightly different angle, saying benching Metcalf would be easier to discuss if the alternatives were better.
But he also stressed that Metcalf has been targeted 19 times and caught only eight passes, and that Rodgers has a 29.9 passer rating when throwing his way. Bray said the Steelers should keep involving rookie Germie Bernard and expand Michael Pittman Jr.’s role when he returns.
Bernard was one of the few bright spots on offense. Bailey liked seeing him targeted early and often, and pointed to a drive where he caught three of four passes, including a 19-yard completion on third-and-8.
He did have a pass bounce off his chest for an interception late in the fourth quarter, but by then the outcome was settled. Bray was even more bullish, saying Bernard’s four catches for 35 yards didn’t fully show how much he helped pace the passing game.
He highlighted the rookie’s toughness and ability after the catch, and said he should keep getting more work because he has the tools to become the kind of threat Pittsburgh badly needs.
The defense, meanwhile, continued to carry its weight. New England was held to 13 points, the Steelers forced two turnovers, and Drake Maye was sacked three times.
Bailey called the unit terrific through two weeks and said it played up to par against the Patriots. He noted a couple of chunk plays, but said those are part of life against a quality offense.
He also said the pass rush has been excellent and the secondary has held up fine without Joey Porter Jr., while Pittsburgh currently leads the NFL in defensive EPA per play. Bray gave the defense a strong review as well, saying it kept Pittsburgh within striking distance for much of the first three quarters.
He praised the edge rushers - TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, and Jack Sawyer - and said he’s still impressed by Payton Wilson and Patrick Queen. His only real concern was how the secondary might look in Week 3 without Porter after giving up several downfield chunk plays.
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