Steelers vs Patriots: Major causes for concern this week

Last week, the Pittsburgh Steelers secured a victory over the Atlanta Falcons in their season opener, despite the Falcons employing a backup quarterback. While a win is always pleasing, this performance did not instill much confidence in the Steelers' offense, unless they can significantly improve. This week, the Steelers will host the New England Patriots, who also lost in their inaugural game.

On the surface, this matchup appears favorable for the Steelers; however, even with head coach Mike McCarthy at the helm, there remain numerous concerns heading into Week Two.

There is a possibility that the overconfidence permeating the Steelers could lead to complacency, as seen in past seasons when teams overplayed against weaker opponents and subsequently faltered the following week. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who is sidelined due to a combination of an undisclosed injury and conditioning issues, might become a point of contention.

Both the Steelers and Patriots may attempt to exploit this situation, but it is uncertain whether Porter Jr.'s absence will significantly impact the team's performance.

The Steelers must bolster their run game, which they struggled with in their season opener against the Falcons. Quarterback Jalen Warren must secure the football and avoid turnovers, while running back Rico Dowdle needs to enhance his performance and improve his running ability. Additionally, the offensive line must demonstrate improvement to facilitate better offensive plays.

Nevertheless, the Patriots are undoubtedly a superior team than the Falcons, as demonstrated in their Week One victory. Although Bijan Robinson, the Patriots' running back, does not excel beyond his counterparts on the Steelers, the overall talent and coaching of the Patriots surpass their opponents.