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Steelers defense carries Justin Fields and offense to a win over Denver and a 2-0 start
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Steelers defense carries Justin Fields and offense to a win over Denver and a 2-0 start

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (2) led a win over the Broncos in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The Pittsburgh Steelers don’t get much production on offense. That doesn’t matter when your defense doesn’t allow anything.

The Steelers won Week 1 without scoring a touchdown, then won Week 2 by just one touchdown. The Steelers are 2-0 with two wins on foreign soil, despite some offensive struggles, largely because the defense looks great again.

The Steelers crushed Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix, with TJ Watt having another fantastic game and everyone else doing their part. The Broncos were held to three points for 58 minutes, scored a field goal in the final two minutes, but couldn’t score a miracle touchdown in the final seconds and the Steelers won 13-6. The Steelers may have only allowed one touchdown on offense, but they’ve only allowed one touchdown. That was six quarters ago.

Justin Fields has made two starts and done enough that it seems unlikely he will be replaced by Russell Wilson anytime soon. Maybe that’s the best thing you can say about the Steelers offense, but 2-0 is 2-0.

The Steelers were so dominant on defense that the Broncos felt they had to use a trick play to make something happen. They did a flea flicker, Nix had Josh Reynolds deep and although he was too late to get him the ball, Reynolds made a jumping catch for 49 yards. The Broncos were finally in business.

Two plays later, Nix threw an interception in the end zone. Steelers cornerback Cory Trice Jr. lured the rookie quarterback, who thought he had Courtland Sutton open in the end zone. Trice slid over and intercepted Nix’s sidearm pass in the end zone. That was the day for the Broncos offense. The Falcons offense from Week 1 can relate.

Somewhere early in the game, the Steelers offense had to realize that their biggest job was not to blow it. Like last week, when the Atlanta Falcons scored 10 points to lose 18-10, the Steelers had to control the clock a little bit, not run it out and score just enough to never really put the game within reach of their opponent.

It’s not the prettiest formula, but it worked twice.

Wilson’s calf injury before Week 1 opened the door for Fields to start Week 1. The competition between Wilson and Fields in the preseason was close, and the Steelers won the opener with Fields playing a decent game, so Pittsburgh appeared not to consider a change. Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Fields would be the starter.

There is no reason to make a change after a 2-0 start. Fields did not really get going, but he was decent enough again.

At some point, the Steelers are going to play someone stronger than a rusty Kirk Cousins ​​or an overpowered rookie like Nix, and at that point the offense is going to have to do more than just not blow things up. That’s when Fields will be tested, and if things don’t go well, big changes may be considered.

But right now, all is well in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are undefeated behind a very good defense that handles the quarterback like few other teams. There’s still a long way to go, but so far, Tomlin seems to be working some magic again after winning two games by just one touchdown.