Former QB Ben Roethlisberger issues Steelers warning to rest of NFL: 'Watch out'

The Pittsburgh Steelers have an impressive 2-0 record to start the 2024 season after capturing a 13-6 victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday. 

For a team that had so many questions surrounding them ahead of the season, they have been able to take care of business so far after two road contests. As usual, the defense has been carrying the team to victory, but the offense has looked efficient and has done a good job keeping the ball out of harm's way. 

Pittsburgh's offense only managed to muster up 13 points in the win, but the defense was the definition of dominant. The Broncos struggled to get anything going offensively, and the Steelers picked off Bo Nix twice. The defense has historically been the stronger of the two units in the Steel City, and through two games in the 2024 season, they have only given up 16 points. 

Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger thinks the defense can carry the team far, as he discussed on the most recent episode of his podcast, "Footbahlin With Ben Roethlisberger."

"It was, to me, a total domination by the defense. All parts of it, top to bottom, side to side. The Steelers will go far with this defense; all you have to do is have a competent offense that doesn't turn the ball over, which we saw again."

Pittsburgh has met the exact formula that Roethlisberger described. It is a typical game plan for head coach Mike Tomlin. Through two games, the offense hasn't turned the ball over, and more importantly, they have proven they can eat up the clock with their scheme. On Pittsburgh's touchdown drive on Sunday, they could eat up seven and a half minutes of the clock. This is a significant factor, as they gave their defense time to recover and put points on the board.

Every game won't go the way it did Sunday. Eventually, Justin Fields and the offense will turn the ball over; it is just part of the game. The defense will also have an off day, but the other side of the ball must make plays to lift them up. Pittsburgh has a clear winning formula that they have been able to execute over the last two weeks, and Roethlisberger believes it can lead them to great places.

"This offense, if you put this offense, what we saw [Sunday], with the defense we saw [Sunday] — watch out," continued Roethlisberger. "And again, I got to be careful because it's Denver, but no, it's what I saw."

Denver didn't have high expectations going into the 2024 season, especially with a rookie quarterback. It was a game the Steelers were supposed to win. The same can probably be said about the Atlanta Falcons, whom the Steelers took down in Week 1. Atlanta has a ton of offensive weapons and impressive new additions on defense. It was a game Pittsburgh could have easily choked away, but they followed the game plan and executed at a high level.

Steelers' new defensive additions have been making an impact

Pittsburgh made some splashes during the offseason on the defensive side of the ball, including signing Patrick Queen and DeShon Elliott and trading for Donte Jackson. Jackson and Elliott came up big in the Week 1 contest, as each player recorded an interception. Queen has been the athletic linebacker the Steelers have been searching for, as he has been able to make tackles going from sideline to sideline. 

The Steelers also have the usual contributors: T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Joey Porter Jr. and Minkah Fitzpatrick. All four of them have been playing like the elite players they are, and Cam Heyward looks to be back to his old self now that he is fully healthy. Pittsburgh's defense is one of the best in the league, and Roethlisberger believes it can lead them to a successful season.

Do you agree with Roethlisberger?