Throwback Thursday: 2016 preseason lows led to positive regular season
Steel City Underground takes fans back in time to feature events, special moments, and historical times and players in the world of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Steelers Nation. Join us as we revisit these moments in our βSteelers Throwback Thursdayβ series.
With Pittsburgh Steelers fans in the throws of woe over back-to-back 2024 NFL preseason losses, it seems a great time to look back at the last time the Steelers had a losing record in the preseason – 2016 – and what ended up happening once the regular season was under full steam.
The preseason opener
Several players were a scratch from the August 12 game, including Ben Roethlisberger, Markus Wheaton, Artie Burns, Le’Veon Bell, Senquez Golson, DeAngelo Williams, Bud Dupree, Maurkice Pouncey, Ladarius Green, Antonio Brown, and Jarvis Jones. Wheaton (shoulder), Dupree (groin), and Green were injured.
Wheaton and Golson later landed on I/R, as did Dupree (though he would be the team’s lone designation to return) and Green went to the PUP list.
The Steelers matched the Detroit Lions through the first half, for the most part, but struggled in the second half and lost, 30-17, at home.
Loss to Eagles in interception-laden game
The second preseason game for the Steelers was a nightmare. With a majority of the “starters” again sidelined, the evaluation of depth was on. Quarterback Landry Jones was chastised for throwing 4 interceptions en-route to a Philadelphia Eagles shutout of the Steelers, 17-0.
Cobi Hamilton makes an INSANE catch on 3rd down during the preseason – Read More: https://t.co/6GQEy9fmjO pic.twitter.com/rTurO0n7Z6
— π¦ππ²π²πΉ ππΆππ π¨π»π±π²πΏπ΄πΏπΌππ»π± (@steelcityundrgr) February 10, 2017
Bruce Gradkowski had gotten injured in the first game, so the only other QB to turn to was Dustin Vaughan, who didn’t produce any spectacular statistics.
A win in the “Big Easy”
Steelers Nation was itching to see what the offense might look like with many of the “starters” in game. As Ben Roethlisberger,Β Antonio Brown and others returned, they made short work of the New Orleans Saints in about one quarterβs worth of work on August 26. Landry Jones also redeemed his play in the previous game.
The Steelers went on to beat the Saints in New Orleans, 27-14.
Looking back to when Landry found a wide-open Sammie Coates in a Big Easy preseason blowout of the Saints #HereWeGo #Steelers pic.twitter.com/qjgkzKVYbj
— π¦ππ²π²πΉ ππΆππ π¨π»π±π²πΏπ΄πΏπΌππ»π± (@steelcityundrgr) February 18, 2017
The ugly end to preseason
The Steelers went head-to-head against the Carolina Panthers with a majority of the top players at each position standing on the sidelines looking on.
When Landry Jones took off his helmet after just two offensive series for the Steelers so that Bryn Renner could run the offense, it looked like the game would be a wash. The most memorable offensive play for Pittsburgh was Daryl Richardson‘s touchdown.
Defensively, Artie Burns finally made his NFL debut.
The Steelers lost, 18-6, as Graham Gano converted six field goals for the Panthers.
Why is any of this noteworthy in 2024?
The 2016 Steelers team went on to finish the regular season with an 11-5 record and win the AFC North. For the first time, since 2004,Β tight endΒ Heath Miller was not on the opening day roster (he retired on February 19, 2016), which meant Roethlisberger had to find a new “favorite” target, especially as an outlet.
They, too, were a team that had focused mainly on strengthening one side of the ball (defense) through the NFL Draft.
They weren’t sure if Jones or Zach Mettenberger, who they picked up at QB late, would be reliable if anything should happen to Roethlisberger, the veteran.
And, they had a rough schedule; they had to face the Cincinnati Bengals (a division rival), Eagles (who’d hammered them in the preseason), and Kansas City Chiefs in weeks 2-4, all teams that were slated to be tough opponents that season. They also knew the road to the Super Bowl was likely through the powerhouse New England Patriots.
There were injury challenges to work around, a slew of new players, a swap of personnel due to injuries. No, that’s not unique in the NFL, but it’s similar to what Pittsburgh currently faces.
Could 2024 mirror what the 2016 Steelers were able to accomplish after a losing record in the preseason? Will this latest Pittsburgh team start off slow and then explode in the middle of the season to win the division and make it to the AFC Championship game… or farther?
The answer is, yes, it could happen. There’s a lot of work to be done, but the Steelers have yet to field their full compliment of “number ones” in a game. Those who have played haven’t logged a large number of snaps.
There’s still room for optimism. As new offensive coordinator Art Smith said recently, “Preseason record doesn’t go on your permanent record,” but it could provide the film needed to not only set up the best possible roster for the regular season, determine a more concrete playbook and game planning, and be the motivation this team needs once regular season competition kicks off.
