CHICAGO -- The worst thing the Steelers could do on this searing Sunday afternoon in the Windy City is to look past the Bears.
So, on that note, let's look past the Bears.
No, I'm almost being serious with this. Because what looms on the schedule is that much larger and, possibly, the most important regular-season game they'll play, seven days from now in Baltimore. And, if you skip past the Jaguars the following week, here come the Chiefs, Bengals and Lions.
Beat the 2-0 Ravens, and hop into the AFC North driver's seat. Again. Beat the 2-0 Chiefs, and build up solid position in the conference, not to mention the confidence that, in turn, they might someday beat the Patriots, as Kansas City did on the NFL's opening night. Beat the 0-2 Bengals, bury them a mile deep in the North and enjoy the daylights out of it, as ever. Then beat the 2-0 Lions and emerge on top of the world.
Easy!
Ha! Not really, of course, but that's the map the Steelers are facing. And, the specter of injury aside, it's one that, if they're the contenders we all rightly expect them to be -- that they rightly expect themselves to be -- now is the time to push that pedal.
And now, I swing right back to the Bears. Today at 1:02 p.m., here at Soldier Field. Because despite the Steelers' own 2-0 mark, despite having improved from Cleveland to the home opener, they haven't been at their best on either side of the ball, and I'm probably wording that generously.
Here are a handful of things they'd do well to achieve here and now, not just for the desired outcome, to borrow from Mike Tomlin, but also to make a likely necessary step toward meeting those challenges listed above:
• Have Le'Veon Bell catch a pass. With a purpose. He's barely touched the ball out of the air, with seven receptions for a meager 19 yards. This makes less sense than anything that's transpired to date with this team.
And please, no four-wide formations with Bell watching from the sideline. He's that much more threatening if he lines up outside because absolutely no one can predict what he'll do.
First play, gentlemen. First play.
• Have him break one on the ground while we're at it. Nothing would unsettle Chicago's No. 5-ranked run defense more than having its strength exposed immediately. Also, it brings those safeties up to the line, and it's bombs away.
• Martavis Bryant's got five catches on 10 targets. Both of those figures are terribly out of whack with the 105 receiving yards, the four first-down catches and the 49 yards he claimed on a Minnesota pass interference.
He's really back. Might as well utilize him.
• It's one thing to get there. The Steelers' defense has done that, with nine sacks, nine passes defensed and an infinite quantity of Cam Heyward slammed against the quarterback's chinguard.
But it's quite another thing to get the ball.
Aside from T.J. Watt flying high for that DeShone Kizer dying quail in Cleveland, there hasn't been another interception. Aside from Artie Burns scooping up one garbage-time fumble against the Vikings, there hasn't been another forced or recovered.
Show me a defense that's getting better, and I'll show you solid stuffing against two weak offensive opponents with no-name quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers.
Show me a defense trending toward a championship, and I'll show you fields getting flipped.
• Get Stephon Tuitt through the game. Nothing's scarier than the notion that he goes out there with his biceps at less than 100 percent and doesn't escape this Sunday because he suited up for the Bears.
I know he's ready. He's told me that. I'm sure the doctors have done due diligence. Doesn't mean I've got to like it.
• Win the thing.
Honestly, the last annoyance anyone associated with the Steelers should want this week is a resurrection of the outdated Tomlin-can't-beat-losing-teams-on-the-road theme. Yeah, it's happened 17 times in 35 games over his decade, but that record last season was 4-1, and they were 6-1 overall against losing teams. The lone loss came in that Miami quagmire where only Jay Ajayi somehow was able to find footing.
Take care of business, but do it with a little more boomin'.
WHAT'S BREWING
• Well, let's just say that this is the one day all year that all four of our professional sports teams play an actual game. And that we're stretched as a staff about as far as we've ever been, to put it mildly. But you'll get our best, as always.
If it's pregame reading material you seek:
• Five things to watch today, by Mark Kaboly
• Key matchups vs. Bears, by Christopher Carter
Also, here's our Henne Jewelers Steelers Show on DK Sports Radio, a full hour of Kaboly and Carter previewing this game:
