Steelers adjust to no fans at Heinz Field for season opener against Broncos

The scoreboard crew cued up “Renegade” in the fourth quarter in an attempt to fire up the Pittsburgh Steelers defense playing in front of an empty stadium.

The Styx song was one of the touches of normalcy the entertainment staff provided for the first home game of the season — one played without fans occupying the 68,400 seats at Heinz Field.

The Denver Broncos scored a touchdown immediately after “Renegade” roared over the loud speakers, and the Steelers couldn’t look for any home-field advantage in the waning moments when the Broncos threatened to snatch away a victory.

“That’s when we kind of missed the crowd to mess up the offense,” cornerback Joe Haden said after the Steelers’ 26-21 win. “That’s when having the crowd out there is a little different because that’s when Heinz Field would be jumping.”

The Steelers also won’t have fans around to provide inspiration when they attempt to go 3-0 for the first time since 2010 next Sunday against the Houston Texans. The franchise announced before the season that the first two home games would not have fans in attendance because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Although the ambience wasn’t much different to the season opener at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. — no fans were permitted inside that venue, either — the Steelers enjoyed taking the field on their home grass.

“I still prefer playing at home, no doubt” said outside linebacker T.J. Watt, who had 2.5 of the Steelers’ seven sacks. “It’s better to be able to be in our locker room and be in Heinz Field and listen to all the third-down chants and everything to pump us up. I still like playing at home.”