Mitch Trubisky’s home opener for Steelers much like his tenure with Bears

James Daniels was feeling nostalgic Sunday. And not in a good way.

A starting right guard, Daniels is new to the Pittsburgh Steelers and played in his first home opener for them Sunday. So did quarterback Mitch Trubisky, Daniels’ former teammate for three seasons with the Chicago Bears.

Sunday’s 17-14 loss to the New England Patriots had Daniels harkening back to those days in 2018-20.

“I look back at Chicago,” Daniels said after Sunday’s loss, “and we had so many games just like this where our defense was lights-out, and our offense just couldn’t get into a rhythm and just couldn’t get it done. It’s frustrating.”

Trubisky probably was feeling the same way during his home Steelers debut, one that not only resulted in defeat but also at one point had fans at Acrisure Stadium booing the offense and chanting the first name of his backup, Kenny Pickett.

“It is what it is,” Trubisky said of that indignity. “You just block it out and continue to play football.”

Trubisky had a 73.8 passer rating Sunday, completing 21 of 33 passes for 168 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Trubisky was sacked three times, and his turnover was his first in a Steelers uniform, dating to the preseason.

A muffed punt return led to a touchdown that helped propel the Patriots to a 17-14 victory. #NEvsPIT https://t.co/jxJHSr4vdh

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) September 18, 2022

The offense under Trubisky’s direction has produced 30 points in nine quarters over two games (the Steelers had a defensive touchdown during the opening 23-20 overtime win in Cincinnati). In 22 non-kneeldown possessions this season with Trubisky at quarterback, the Steelers offense has produced seven scores (two touchdowns, five field goals) and eight three-and-outs.

“We can be better at everything,” Trubisky said. “I can be better at decision-making. We had some missed opportunities. I had some missed throws. We had a couple where we weren’t on the same page. Bottom line, we’ve got to score more points.”

The Steelers not only didn’t score points on their final two drives of the game, they couldn’t even manage a first down during the two possessions that originated during the fourth quarter. Each came with the Steelers needing a field goal to tie or a touchdown to take the lead.

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Instead, drives that began at the Steelers’ 11- and 20-yard lines managed to net a combined 12 yards in six snaps.

“Obviously, we collectively didn’t make enough plays (on offense) today,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “(Trubisky) included.”

Trubisky has a 76.1 rating, 59.2% completion percentage and 5.1 average yards per attempt through two games. All rank near the bottom of the league’s starting quarterbacks over this young season.

Trubisky completed only one pass that gained more than 17 yards against the Patriots after having only three such completions against Cincinnati.

Wilson & Mills on the pick.

????: #NEvsPIT on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/bCAXgzglXE

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 18, 2022

“The best thing you can do at this time is continue to buy into the plan,” Trubisky said.

“Whatever it is, do your job to the best of your ability.”

When you go back and look at the film, you see what works, you see what doesn’t. You do more of the stuff that works, and then maybe you drop some of the other stuff. I think that’s how you grow as an offense.

“I think everybody just needs to worry about their job, and we’ll just keep growing and going in the right direction together.”

The No. 2 overall pick of the 2017 draft, Trubisky has experience as the face of a franchise. And though the Bears offense ranked between 21st and 30th during each of his four seasons he started for them, Trubisky remains among the active leaders in QB winning percentage as a starter (30-22, .577).

Sunday might have reminded Daniels of some of the Bears’ failures with Trubisky as their quarterback, but Daniels also contends the offense is united behind its new leader.

“His demeanor’s been good, very positive,” Daniels said. “We had some bad plays (Sunday), and no matter what, he was positive and kept on encouraging us. And we were rallying behind him. We just didn’t get it done.”

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