Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Curt Popejoy

Steelers vs Niners: 4 early casuses for concern this week

Buy Steelers Tickets

The Pittsburgh Steelers are wasting no time in 2023 with a tough matchup. Week One finds the Steelers welcoming the San Francisco 49ers to Acrisure Stadium. Many pundits think the Niners are a legitimate Super Bowl contender out of the NFC so there’s nothing like hitting the ground running.

The season isn’t won or lost in the first week but in the AFC North, you cannot afford to slip up in non-conference games. Here are the four early worries we have for this game.

That Bosa guy

(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Honestly, the entire Niners defense is impressive but if the Niners get a contract done for edge rusher Nick Bosa, the San Francisco defense extends to a whole different level.

Making Kenny Pickett beat them

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

San Francisco is going to come out and assert themselves in stuffing the run. They want to see if quarterback Kenny Pickett can beat them when the run game isn’t working. Is Pickett ready to carry the offense in the first game of the season?

Matt Canada has to show it

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Offensive coordinator Matt Canada is proud as a peacock at how his starting offense played in the preseason. But five drives is five drives. If you are a Steelers fan, you have to temper your expectations for this offense as long as Canada is in charge until they can come out and do it in the regular season.

Staying healthy

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

This one might seem obvious but the first couple of games are always a bit more tenuous when it comes to injuries. Starters don’t play much in preseason and all these players are so keyed up, you just never know what could happen.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.