Two key players struggled mightily against the Steelers in a very winnable game. Matthew Bergeron and A.J. Terrell were penalized, lackadaisical, and a step behind far too often in their respective matchups. It was perplexing to see two veterans not on their game at the start of the season, especially given the circumstances surrounding the team’s quarterback situation.
For all of Terrell’s issues isolated in man coverage, he does tend to have blowup games where many things go wrong. That usually transpires against Mike Evans, who he still has to face next month. Terrell has established himself that the confidence should be there for him to bounce back relatively quickly.
Bergeron has yet to play at a consistent high level, despite being paid like a top-tier guard. That is one of the main reasons why fans are far more concerned with his play.
As confidence in the team’s direction declined after last week’s defeat, players like Bergeron need to prove they can elevate their game. The front office invested in him to be one of the cornerstones of what they are building offensively.
Getting beaten off the line of scrimmage repeatedly and not adding much as a run blocker puts them at a disadvantage at a time when the offense is looking for any advantage to capitalize on. Bergeron must show that last week’s ugly showing was a testament to how lethal the Steelers’ front is rather than his shortcomings.
