Tuesday, January 28, 2025, 12:54PM |  36°
MENU
Advertisement
Antonio Brown pulls away from the Browns 'Jamie Collins Sr. during Sunday's season opener.
1
MORE

Reality didn't meet 'expectations' for the Steelers offense

Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

Reality didn't meet 'expectations' for the Steelers offense

Brown and Roethlisberger did their part in Week 1; Bell and Bryant, not so much

So, you tuned in to see the return of the Killer B’s Sunday for the first time in 22 months. Instead, CBS showed another program, “The Killer Zzzzzs.”

At least two of the Steelers’ B’s were as advertised, Antonio Brown and Ben Roethlisberger, and the two helped pull out a 21-18 opening win in Cleveland, where they’ve been trying to field a football team since the old Browns became the Baltimore Ravens two decades ago.

The other two, Le’Veon Bell and Martavis Bryant? Not so much. Bell and Roethlisberger were not in sync in the passing game, and Bell ran 10 times for just 32 yards. His combined 47 yards from scrimmage (counting three receptions for 15 yards) were the fewest in his five-year career.

Advertisement

Bryant was even less a factor Sunday. He caught two of the six passes thrown his way for 14 yards and dropped a third.

Ben Roethlisberger delivers a pass Sunday against Cleveland.
Ray Fittipaldo
Le'Veon Bell: 'I'm just executing the game plan and doing what I'm told'

The Steelers offense that is supposed to be perhaps the best in the league scored 14 points against a Cleveland defense that ranked 31st in the NFL last season and was without dynamic rookie end Myles Garrett and run-stopping tackles Danny Shelton, both injured.

Everyone expected much more.

“I did too,” Steelers All-Pro guard David DeCastro said. “I think a lot of people had higher expectations. We’re lucky we got the win, but we have a lot of work to do.”

Advertisement

The good news for them is they do have the talent, that Bell eventually will get in step with the rest of his offense and again play like the best halfback in the league. That Bryant will again become the big-play receiver who can draw the double or triple coverage away from Brown, who was dynamic again to start his eighth season.

“A.B. bailed us out making those plays,” DeCastro said. “He made it look easy but those are tough plays. You cannot always count on that. When we’re on the same page, we’ll be a lot better, coaches and players.”

Blame the offense’s ragged performance on Bell missing all of the preseason and playing after just one week of practice. Or on Bryant missing all of last season to a suspension and not being cleared to practice this summer by the NFL until Aug. 9.

You also can blame all the penalties, where Mike Tomlin preferred to lay the blame for the Steelers’ poor running game. He said beforehand that Bell’s preseason absence would have its consequences somewhere but refused to say Sunday in Cleveland was it.

Ben Roethlisberger is just fine with the way his team played in Week 1 vs. the Browns.
Sean Gentille
Ben Roethlisberger is very, very happy with Jesse James (and OK with Le'Veon Bell)

“You can write whatever story you want to write about — him missing preseason and all of that,” Tomlin instructed reporters in the aftermath. “The bottom line is that we got highly penalized and it put us behind the chains and minimized the running game. Write that because that’s what happened.”

It all could just have been a case of opening-day jitters on the road, too, as some have noted. But that did not stop them in the opener last year at the Washington Redskins. They scored 38 points and held a decent Redskins team that would finished with seven more victories than the Browns to 16 points.

And they did not play that day with Bell or Bryant.

Now they have both, although not obviously in peak form judging by their play in Cleveland. The Steelers’ offense must play better than it did in the season opener against the Minnesota Vikings in their home opener at Heinz Field Sunday.

“We play 16 games, 15 left,” DeCastro noted. “Adjust and move on. Don’t panic.”

Ed Bouchette: ebouchette@post-gazette.com

First Published: September 12, 2017, 10:00 a.m.

RELATED
Stephon Tuitt reaches for Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer during Sunday's game in Cleveland.
Gerry Dulac
Mike Tomlin says Stephon Tuitt has a small chance of playing vs. Vikings
Le'Veon Bell
Paul Zeise
Paul Zeise: The Steelers aren't special unless their three stars are
Cornerback Joe Haden received a mediocre grade for his Steelers debut Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.
Adam Bittner
Pro Football Focus: Joe Haden unremarkable in Steelers debut
Le'Veon Bell is wrapped up by the Joe Schobert.
Ron Cook
Ron Cook: Breathe, Steelers fans, your team is 1-0
Tyson Alualu is expecting to see more time with Stephon Tuitt out.
Ray Fittipaldo
With Stephon Tuitt out, Tyson Alualu and L.T. Walton step up on Steelers defensive line
Stephon Tuitt
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Cam Heyward says Stephon Tuitt's injury isn't season-ending
T.J. Watt returns an interception Sunday against the Browns.
Gene Collier
Gene Collier: T.J. Watt turns out lights on Browns in pro debut
As expected, Antonio Brown caught everything that came his way and sparked the offense to two touchdowns with big plays.
Gerry Dulac
Gerry Dulac's Report Card: Steelers 21, Browns 18
Tyler Matakevich blocks a punt Sunday.
Ray Fittipaldo
Ray Fittipaldo's Steelers chat transcript: 9.11.17
Defense end Stephon Tuitt made two big plays to start the game but then left because of a biceps injury and did not return.
Ray Fittipaldo
The winningest quarterback in Cleveland since 1999? He plays for the Steelers
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
The neighborhood of Beechview is photographed on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. Tensions are high in that community and others in Western Pennsylvania as President Donald Trump's administration ramps up Immigration & Customs Enforcement roundups of illegal immigrants.
1
news
Fear and anxiety ripple through Western Pa. communities amid immigration crackdown
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey spoke Monday to members of the Pennsylvania Press Club in Harrisburg.
2
news
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey says his administration will not work with ICE
Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II walks around the field before an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Denver.
3
sports
Art Rooney II gives Mike Tomlin vote of confidence, admits Steelers unlikely to re-sign both QBs
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields is greeted by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson after scoring a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers at the Acrisure Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in the North Shore. The Pittsburgh Steelers won 20-10.
4
sports
Gerry Dulac: Steelers want a streamlined QB style, so who fits the bill?
Pittsburgh helmets on the sidelines during an NCAA college football game against North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.
5
sports
ACC reveals full 2025 conference schedule for Pitt football
Antonio Brown pulls away from the Browns 'Jamie Collins Sr. during Sunday's season opener.  (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)
Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST sports
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story