As most NFL insiders expected, the Pittsburgh Steelers have hit a bit of a slump after winning their first 11 games of the season, dropping two in a row to the Washington Football Team and Buffalo Bills.
People doubted Pittsburgh's ability to compete at the highest level vs. good teams despite being the only undefeated team in the league after the first 12 weeks of play, and so far, they're proving their doubters right.
And, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, there is a growing concern within the organization about Ben Roethlisberger's knee injury. According to his sources, other teams believe that the Steelers have become predictable, especially considering their subpar running game.
Pittsburgh Steelers Are Concerned About Ben Roethlisberger's Knee Injury
"Ben Roethlisberger's knee injury, which flared up a few weeks back, has become a source of greater concern within the Steelers organization, sources said, further limiting the quarterback's mobility at a time when Pittsburgh is throwing the ball at an alarming rate (...) The timing of dropping back so much is odd, given the discomfort the 38-year-old quarterback has been experiencing in his knee, which has impacted him at practice and in games," the report started.
"Pittsburgh has tended to go up-tempo with a spread formation for long stretches at a time – often an empty set – with Roethlisberger getting rid of the ball quickly in a short-and-intermediate pass offense. It has become somewhat predictable according to some teams who have faced them recently and while the aging quarterback is not getting hit much, it is leading to a more methodical approach that is bogging down in the red zone," La Canfora concluded.
The Steelers are a lock to make the playoffs anyway and they feature an elite defense that can help them get the job done. Then again, they must make adjustments right now if they don't want their historically great season to come to a sudden end.
