The Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up for the 2024 regular season, and with it being the team’s second game fans’ hopes were high heading into the new season. The hope is there is a winning performance on the horizon on Sunday in Week 2 when the team travels to play the Denver Broncos in Colorado.

What exactly do the Steelers need to do to claim their second victory of 2024? Let’s break it down on the defensive side of the ball…

Defense

Keep the turnovers coming

Last week the Steelers had a +3 in the turnover differential category, and that +3 mark is tied with the Los Angeles Chargers as the best in the NFL. It may sound bad, but these types of games might be a necessity early in the season to aid the team’s offense. Giving the Steelers’ offense a short field to operate will help the team leave these road venues with wins. And when it comes to takeaways, it doesn’t matter how they come. Interceptions or fumble recoveries. Just get the ball back, and if they can turn one, or more, of those takeaways into points, then that all helps the greater good.

Stop the run

Last week the Steelers offense held the Falcons rushing attack to 89 yards, which ranks 10th in the league after Week 1, and they’ll need to duplicate that success if they want to dominate the game on the defensive side of the ball. The Broncos will likely want to avoid the stat line for Bo Nix that they saw in Week 1, more on that below, and help their rookie quarterback not have to throw the ball 40+ times. But if the Steelers can stop the run the Broncos will have no option but to have Nix air it out to move the ball, and that is when the Pittsburgh defense can make this game a living hell for Nix.

Confound Bo Nix

Speaking of Nix, the Steelers’ defense needs to confound the quarterback early and often. Last season the Steelers lost two games to rookie quarterbacks, C.J. Stroud and the Texans and Dorian Thompson-Robinson and the Browns, and it’s time for them to get back to harassing quarterbacks who don’t have experience at this level.

Last week Bo Nix had the following stat line:

26/42, 138 yards, 61.98 Completion %, 3.3 ave., 0 TD, 2 INTs, 47.5 Rating

As I stated earlier, I don’t think the Broncos will ask Nix to throw it 42 times unless absolutely necessary, but if the Steelers defense can force the ball into Nix’s hands he could be in for a long day. Throw in the fact the Broncos’ offensive line had the worse outing in the NFL last week, in terms of giving up pressures, and the Steeles pass rush could be licking their chops in regards to getting after Nix.

I talk about this, and MUCH more on the latest episode of “Let’s Ride”, and you can hear that podcast in the player below this article. In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the team as they gear up for game time!