There's been a lot of things said about Ben Roethlisberger in the past nine months, most not very flattering.
One thing nobody can deny, however, is that Roethlisberger is a fierce competitor, one who hates losing more than he loves winning.
Bad losses have come before. In fact, last Sunday's 33-3 defeat at the hands of the Patriots was the 10th of at least 20 points by the Steelers since Roethlisberger has been their quarterback.
The Steelers' record in those next nine games? Roethlisberger has bounced back, leading the Steelers to an 8-1 record.
Roethlisberger's stats in those games? He averaged just 209 yards passing in those games. But he's also thrown 17 touchdown passes against just three interceptions with a passer rating of 108.5, well above his career rating of 94.1.
"They have been the best team in football for a while now and everyone is trying to chase them. We weren’t good enough and we have to get better," Roethlisberger said of last week's game.
His message to the team was a simple one. It was just one game. And even though the Steelers looked awful in pretty much every facet of the game, they've got 15 games remaining.
He should know. He's done this before. In fact, the last time the Steelers were beaten that badly -- a 34-3 loss in Philadelphia in 2016 -- Roethlisberger had perhaps one of the best games of his career the following week, lighting up the Chiefs for 300 yards and five touchdown passes.
For a lot of the players who have been around for a while, they realize life goes on. There's plenty of season remaining and that loss, no matter how bad, only counts as one.
"This is an organization that is used to winning," Stephon Tuitt told me. "We come back to this locker room and we want to rebound from a loss, especially a bad loss. I think a lot of guys are ready to get a win under their belt and move on."
And get that bad taste out of their mouths.
"Yeah. It’s in our mouth and its lingering there," Tuitt said. "At the same time, that’s football. One minute you can be great, the next minute you can be down. The great thing for us we get a chance to get our feet back on the road and get rolling. We didn’t start out the best, but we want to make sure we get back on the right road and get rolling."
After dealing with that bad taste and answering questions about why it happened all week, they will get an opportunity to do that Sunday against the Seahawks in their home opener.
The Seahawks eked out a 21-20 win at home last week against the Bengals and now must head on the road to a city in which they have won just twice in nine tries. In fact, the Seahawks haven't scored a point in Pittsburgh since Sept. 26, 1999, when they beat the Steelers, 29-10, at Three Rivers Stadium.
They've been shut out in their last two trips here, losing by a combined 45-0.
But, like the Steelers' loss last week, that history won't matter.
"It was rough," Mike Hilton said of that opener. "But it was the first game. Nobody is stressed. It’s a bounce-back game against a good opponent. We’re going to try to do what we can to come up with a win."
THE ESSENTIALS
• When: 1:02 p.m.
• Where: Heinz Field
• Radio: 102.5 WDVE, ESPN Pittsburgh
• Satellite: SiriusXM 227, Internet 826
• Forecast: 81 degrees, partly sunny
• Lots open: 9 a.m.
• Will call open: 11 a.m.
• Gates open: 11 a.m.
• Boxscore: NFL Game Center
• Odds: MyBookie.AG
THE INJURY REPORT
Steelers: FB Roosevelt Nix (knee, out), CB Joe Haden (shoulder, questionable), C Maurkice Pouncey (ankle, questionable)
Seahawks: C Joey Hunt (ankle, out), WR David Moore (shoulder, out), DT Poonah Ford (calf, doubtful), FS Tedric Thompson (hamstring, doubtful), CB Neiko Thorpe (hamstring, doubtful), DE Ziggy Ansah (shoulder, questionable)
THE KEY VARIABLE
The Steelers ran the ball just 13 times in their opener, with Roethlisberger attempting 47 passes.
For a team breaking in three new receivers in Donte Moncrief, rookie Diontae Johnson, and Johnny Holton, it might not have been the best plan of attack.
On the positive side, that was the main reason Roethlisberger stayed on the field throughout that game, despite the game being well out of hand and backup Mason Rudolph warming up midway through the fourth quarter.
"Ben wanted to be out there, and it gave him a chance to get some work with guys," Rudolph said.
But the Steelers also realize they need to get their running game going. And they know all too well that three points isn't going to get it done any week.
Nor will going 3 of 12 on third downs.
"What I was most disappointed in is our first and second down because we had opportunities for more yards, run after catch, more run after contact," offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner said. "We lost 3rd-and-1 on first and second down, and that’s where we’ve got to be better. That should never have come up as many times. We have to be better with the ball being playmakers. We need to be clicking more first downs on first and second down. And quite frankly, screw third down."
Three players who weren't used nearly enough last week could be bigger factors in this one. James Conner got just 10 carries for 21 yards and caught four passes for 44 yards. Backup Jaylen Samuels got two carries for four yards and one catch for two more. And tight end Vance McDonald had two catches for 40 yards, both of which came in the final two minutes.
"There’s more to be made there," Fichtner said. "Ben knows that. Balls didn’t have to be forced to anyone and I never got the sense he was. I think that there’s times where, just thoughts in general, if you can get it to them, they can make some plays."
THE HISTORY LESSON
How do you lose a game at home in which your opponent fails to score a touchdown?
Well, it's pretty easy when your quarterbacks throw five interceptions and you also give up a 94-yard punt return for a touchdown.
The Seahawks have only won two times in nine trips to Pittsburgh. And it took those five interceptions -- one of which that was returned for a touchdown -- and a punt return for a score to make the most recent one happen back in 1999.
Kordell Stewart got the start and threw an interception to Merton Hanks just 1:08 into the game that Hanks returned 23 yards for a touchdown.
Just under two minutes later, Charlie Rogers returned a punt 94 yards -- eschewing all conventional wisdom to field a punt inside his own 5 -- for a score to give the Seahawks a 14-0 lead. It was the second-longest punt return against the Steelers in team history, second only to a 96-yard return for a score by former Steelers star Bill Dudley while playing for the Redskins in 1950.
The Steelers were down two touchdowns and the Seahawks offense hadn't even taken the field.
Two more Stewart interceptions in the second quarter would end his day early, while helping the Seahawks to four field goals by Todd Peterson that gave the Seahawks a 29-0 lead without the benefit of an offensive touchdown.
Mike Tomczak didn't have much more luck in the second half, though he did finally get the Steelers into the end zone with a TD pass to Troy Edwards with 1:35 remaining. He threw two more interceptions as the Steelers turned the ball over five times.
Stewart finished 7 of 14 for 61 yards and the three interceptions, while Tomczak was 14 of 27 for 159 yards with one touchdown and two picks. Jerome Bettis was held to 39 yards on 11 carries, while Edwards had six catches for 72 yards and a score.
Jon Kitna threw for 265 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions for the Seahawks, while Ricky Watters had 98 yards rushing on 29 attempts.
Again, The Seahawks have lost their past two trips here since that game, losing by a combined score of 45-0.
THE MAIN MATCHUP
Russell Wilson isn't considered the greatest quarterback of all-time like Tom Brady, but he most certainly is in the conversation among the best quarterbacks playing in the NFL today.
The Steelers only get to see Wilson and the Seahawks once every four years and they're probably pretty thankful for that. The only time they've faced him in the past -- in Seattle in 2015 -- he outdueled Roethlisberger in a memorable game, throwing for 345 yards and throwing five touchdown passes in a 39-30 win.
One player with plenty of experience competing against Wilson is inside linebacker Mark Barron, who was acquired as a free agent from the Rams. Barron faced Wilson twice a year in the NFC West, and teammates have been picking his brain all week about how to attack the mobile quarterback.
"The biggest challenge is that he’s about to scramble around and create on the run and still be accurate on the run and make downfield throws," Barron told me. "He can scramble around and make you cover for an extended period of time."
It's the exact opposite of Brady, who gets rid of the ball quickly. Wilson will use his mobility to move in the pocket and create time. And he's always looking to throw the ball first.
It's very reminiscent of a young Roethlisberger. The only difference is that Roethlisberger is 6-foot-5. Wilson is 5-foot-10.
"He definitely can be hard to find back there," outside linebacker Bud Dupree told me. "And they've got a bunch of big linemen."
Dupree and fellow outside linebacker T.J. Watt could be critical to helping control Wilson.
Like Roethlisberger, when he would hold the ball looking to make plays, Wilson will take sacks. He was sacked 51 times last season and was taken down four times by the Bengals last week, despite dropping back to pass just 24 times.
The defensive plan could be something of a throwback for the Steelers. They could ask their defensive linemen to take on blockers to keep Wilson in the pocket and allow Watt and Dupree to chase him down.
"Russell, he’s an awesome player," Dupree said. "He’s got great arm strength. You have to be rush-lane active, but we also have to use our best move. We have to be aggressive and attack him but also communicate with the ends and the nose guard so we can stay in our lanes, and he won’t be able to escape as much. He’s the kind of guy who’s going to escape at times. You can’t stop it.
"It’s going to happen. We’ve just got to prepare for it so we minimize it."
Getting free safety Sean Davis back in the lineup should help that. Davis sat out the loss to the Patriots last week with an ankle injury but is expected to play in this game.
The Seahawks also run the ball -- a lot. They were one of two teams to have nearly a 50-50 run-pass split last season -- the Ravens were the other -- and that continued against the Bengals. Seattle ran the ball 25 times compared to 20 pass attempts and four sacks.
Just five players caught passes or were even targeted in that game, with running back Chris Carson leading the way with six receptions. Rookie receiver D.K. Metcalf had four catches for 89 yards.
"They’re known to be a run-first team and then they’ll let Russell freelance and run around and make plays," Hilton said. "If you stop the run and make him drop back to pass, that will be good for us."
THE QUOTES
• "I know that they didn’t get the first game like they wanted to, but I think that just makes them that much more dangerous." -- Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll on the Steelers
• "They've got two capable guys in (Chris) Carson and (Rashaad) Penny, Penny they drafted in round one, obviously to be the guy. Carson is very much in the mix because he's got guy-like characteristics." -- Mike Tomlin on the Seattle running backs
• "It’s sickening when you watch it and you know the plays that you’re supposed to make and you didn’t make them. And you see them and you’re like, ‘Gosh, I know I gotta make that.’ The other day, after we watched that film, there was a feeling in my stomach, it hurt. I went home, went straight to sleep, it hurt me. I had to put that away." Donte Moncrief after catching just three passes for seven yards on 10 targets in the opener
THE TEN DATA POINTS
• The Steelers' record for fewest points allowed in their home opener at Heinz Field came in 2011 against the Seahawks when they shut them out, 24-0.
• The Steelers are 50-33-3 all-time in their home openers, having won 15 of 18 at Heinz Field since it opened in 2001.
• The Steelers are 38-17 against NFC teams with Roethlisberger at quarterback. He's thrown 95 touchdown passes with 39 interceptions in those games, posting a passer rating of 99.3.
• Chris Boswell's next successful field goal will be the 100th of his career. Only five players -- Gary Anderson (309), Jeff Reed (204), Roy Gerela (146), Shaun Suisham (124) and Norm Johnson (105) have more in team history.
• The Steelers will be trying to avoid an 0-2 start. While Seattle and Houston both made the playoffs after 0-2 starts in 2018, since 2000, just 12.6 percent of teams that have opened a season 0-2 have rebounded to make the postseason.
• Only the Texans' DeAndre Hopkins (216) had more air yards on passes thrown his way last week than James Washington (159). That measure is the number of yards the ball is in the air on pass attempts to the receiver.
• Pete Carroll is one win shy of 100 for his coaching career with the Seahawks. Carroll is 99-60-1 in his 10 seasons with the Seahawks.
• Carson has scored a touchdown in six consecutive games.
• Smith-Schuster, 22, needs 79 yards to become the youngest player in NFL history to reach 2,500 yards in his career.
• The last time the Seahawks scored an offensive touchdown in Pittsburgh came in 1998 when Warren Moon threw a touchdown pass to Christian Fauria in a 13-10 Steelers win. The Seahawks have played three games in Pittsburgh since that time.
FANTASY CORNER
If you played my fantasy picks on DraftKings.com last week, you likely finished in the money as that lineup scored 206.2 points. Here's this week's lineup using DraftKings.com's salary totals. Today's lineup will feature the 15 Sunday and Monday games with a $50,000 salary limit. -- Matt Sunday
Quarterback: Ben Roethlisberger ($5,800): Roethlisberger is a relative bargain this week at home. Yes, he doesn't provide the rushing totals of some of the other QBs available, but the Seahawks just allowed over 400 passing yards to Andy Dalton -- at home. Roethlisberger and company are going to work the kinks out this week.
Running backs: Alvin Kamara ($8,200), Austin Ekelar ($6,100): Kamara is an obviously chalky pick -- one that will be in a lot of lineups -- but this game against the Rams has shootout written all over it. And I want a piece of that action. Ekelar is back in this space for the second straight week because he's still undervalued.
Wide receivers: JuJu Smith-Schuster ($7,500), Tyler Boyd ($6,500), Mecole Hardman ($4,800): I like to stack a QB and receiver and Roethlisberger and Smith-Schuster look like a good tandem this week. Boyd will get peppered with targets again this week by Dalton at home against the 49ers, while you should get in on Hardman now while the price is low. He was drafted in the second round to replace Tyreek Hill when the Chiefs thought Hill might be suspended. Now that Hill is out for an extended period, Andy Reid will find ways to get his new toy involved.
Tight end: T.J. Hockenson ($3,000): It's usually safer to shy away from rookie tight ends, but Hockenson was targeted nine times last week against the Cardinals. The Chargers are missing Derwin James, but have an otherwise solid secondary. Attacking them with the tight end might be the way to go.
Flex: Giovanni Bernard ($5,300): With Joe Mixon expected to sit out, Bernard should get plenty of action. And the price is right at $5,300.
Defense: Houston ($2,800): The Texans aren't a great defense, but they're playing against a rookie making his first road start with a popgun offense (Jaguars). I'll take that action.
Dale Lolley (1-0): This game sets up well for the Steelers. The Seahawks' offense is pretty basic. Try to run the ball and throw deep, allowing Wilson to run around and make plays. It's basically what the Steelers' offense used to be when Bruce Arians was coordinator. The Steelers should be able to pressure Wilson and get him on the ground. Defensively, the Seahawks are awful in the secondary. Roethlisberger should feast. It all should add up to a win. Steelers, 24-13
Christopher Carter (0-1): The Seahawks' offensive line played horribly last week, primarily with miscommunications and poor fundamentals, and could be the prime place for the Steelers to attack like bullies — especially the defensive line and edge rushers. If they make Wilson's day complicated, look for the Steelers to get their first turnovers of the season. Offensively, the Steelers also can take advantage of miscues in the Seahawks' secondary, resetting their season. Steelers, 27-17
Matt Sunday (1-0): I'd like to first apologize to anyone who bet the spread in favor of Pittsburgh last week ... Let's pretend I didn't say anything about that, OK? Intangibles will always matter in sports, and that's why I'm going with the Steelers here. It has nothing to do with either team's line, DK Metcalf's physique or anything in between. I'm taking them because -- without saying those words exactly -- this is as close to a must-win scenario as you get in Week 2. The Steelers need to prevent a snowball. Steelers, 30-23
Hunter Homistek (1-0): If Roethlisberger doesn't shred this Seahawks defense, then there are some big, big problems in the Steel City. Yeah, "It's just one game" against the Patriots. I believe that is true to a degree, but the play on the field was still troubling. The Steelers know they have to move onward and upward, and that's exactly what I expect to see in this one. It'll all be better, on both sides of the ball, but it still won't be the fully oiled machine may fans expect. Like I said last week, this is a young team with a lot of new faces. Sure, there's potential, but that'll take time to fully develop. This will be step one toward the team's final form. Steelers, 21-17
Dejan Kovacevic (0-1): It's not a circus, it's one ... Jadeveon Clowney. OK, sorry, but Clowney's seismic acquisition just before the season was supposed to give Seattle a front seven that's Legion of Boom-level. And maybe it'll be that. But as long as the secondary looks so bad that it allows Andy Dalton 418 yards through the air -- that Carroll instantly threatened changes ... yeah, that won't end well for the visitors. Neither will much else if my checklist makes the cut. Steelers, 31-19
