HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. -- The first game is special. It’s special for a multitude of reasons.
Donning that Steelers uniform on opening day means you made it out of training camp healthy — and better prepared than you were on the day you reported in July.
It’s special because of the organic growth of team building. The long camp is over. So are the pitched battles between teammates. Wide receivers versus defensive backs. Offensive linemen versus defensive linemen. It’s no longer Steelers against Steelers. Watching Mike Tomlin and his staff mold 50-plus individuals into a fully functioning unit is an art form. Now, it’s one collective heartbeat, one motivated team determined to smash every opponent on the schedule.
Monday night, we finally got Steelers football back — under the lights and before a national television audience at MetLife Stadium.
Before diving into the 26-16 win over the Giants, one thought on the NFL's opening weekend in general: Even with small crowds and, in some cases no crowds, teams brought the energy and intensity we love about the game. The performances weren’t flawless and the execution wasn’t at midseason levels, but football is never perfect. All things considered, with not a single preseason game played, we must salute the entire league for its efforts last weekend.
OK, let's get to Monday's win:
• The defense picked up right where it left off last season. That means creating disruption, chaos and big plays. Three sacks. Two interceptions. Lots of heavy hitting. The pressure the front seven applied to Daniel Jones and the Giants’ running game was a sight to behold. There were some soft spots in zone coverage, but that’s to be expected periodically.
• Cam Heyward remains a man-child at the heart of the defense. And how about those hands? His goal-line interception to stall a 19-play, 87-yard New York drive in the third quarter was among the game’s biggest plays. That’s one way to celebrate a contract extension.
• The tandem of T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree is going to be problematic for every opponent this year. Watt had two hits on the quarterback and an outstanding interception. Dupree was everywhere. It was his hustle and pressure that forced Jones into the bad pass that Heyward picked. The outside linebackers were part of a savvy and seasoned defensive unit that showed little rust in its first game. I’ve been in that locker room when guys are champing at the bit to play, and you could see it in their performance against the Giants, who finished with 29 yards rushing on 20 attempts.
• The absence of Javon Hargrave is an issue many fans had on their minds. But as I’ve stated over and over, Tyson Alulalu is more than capable of filling that role. He’s a former first-round pick of Jacksonville with loads of experience. He contributed four tackles against the Giants.
• The secondary didn’t need to make a lot of big plays, but Mike Hilton again showed the knack for getting to the quarterback. He registered two QB hits, including a sack. His ability to get home on blitzes is impressive. He has 7.5 sacks and 20 QB hits in 48 career games. He's making Keith Butler look smart when calling those corner blitzes. The defensive back also is building a solid reputation for his work in the box.
• Switching to the offense, I’m not breaking any news in writing that Ben Roethlisberger looked good. And no, I’m not talking about his sweet haircut and trimmed up beard. I’m talking about his throwing arm and, yeah, those 38-year-old legs. Ben can forever say he had more rushing yards than Saquon Barkley in this matchup. Of course, the Steelers' defense had everything to do with holding Barkley to 6 yards on 15 carries. But as a competitor looking for bragging rights, I’d run with it, just as Ben did for 9 yards on three attempts. As for his arm, it looked as strong as it’s been in years.
• The start of the game wasn’t what we expected. Offenses seem to develop slower than defenses. Defenses thrive on controlled chaos, while an offense is supposed to purr like a 1969 Chevy Chevelle Super Sport — strong but steady. The Steelers were rusty in the first quarter, but they were a thing of beauty when everyone found their groove, especially on that last drive before halftime.
• The AFC spotlight is shining brightly on Chiefs and Ravens, who posted convincing Week 1 wins. But the Steelers always like flying under the radar. It gives you an extra edge when no one really thinks you’re capable of competing for a title.
• The offensive line played well given the absence of David DeCastro. It’s hard to replace an All-Pro guard and break in a new tackle — both on the right side. Zach Banner and Stefen Wisniewski knew they would be under pressure. Matt Feiler, Alejandro Villanueva and Maurkice Pouncey are proven starters in the same system from last year. Banner and Wisniewski were bound to attract flies, and they did. But as the game went along, they cleaned up the pressure.
• Health is a huge part of making a Super Bowl run. The most troubling aspect of the win, for me, was Banner and Wisniewski getting hurt. I feel terrible for Banner, who worked his butt off to transform himself as a player. He’s always been a true professional off the field. You could see the hurt in his eyes after speaking with the athletic trainers. There is a 100 percent injury rate for players in this league. It can be a finger, toe, concussion or many other things. But you hate hearing about potential season-ending injuries, the kind Banner suffered. While I’ve never dealt with a serious knee injury, I’ve seen my brother and many of my teammates endure ACL tears. It’s a long, hard road back. You go from feeling like Superman to barely being able to walk up steps. The quad muscles you have developed in your training turn to putty. The thing I love about Banner is he’s a warrior, and you can tell the level of respect he has from his teammates. It was illustrated in the way players came over to comfort him on the bench, his eyes welling with tears.
• Coach Tomlin will likely lean on Chuks Okorafor, and maybe rookie Kevin Dotson. It’s a “next-man-up” mentality, and those players will be expected to deliver.
• If the first performance is anything like the rest of the season — with Ben spreading the ball around and even showing trust in rookie Chase Claypool — the Steelers will wake up every game day feeling “dangerous,” unlike Baker Mayfield and his Browns.
It was a good start with a lot of room to grow. I can’t wait to buckle up and see the finished product.