Mitch Trubisky: Steelers offense needs to develop 'killer mindset'

Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky knows the offense can’t rely on the the defense forcing five turnovers every week, as it did in a Week 1 win over Cincinnati. Trubisky also acknowledged the offense must score more.

“When your defense is playing that well, and they're getting turnovers, you just want to take care of the football, but we've got to have that killer mindset,” Trubisky said in a Wednesday news conference. “That aggressive mentality, to really take teams out of the game and just not allow them to keep it close.”

In a 23-20 win in overtime, Pittsburgh only scored one offensive touchdown and went 4-of-15 on third down. 

Its inability to convert on third down in the final minutes of the fourth quarter nearly blew the game. If Minkah Fitzpatrick had not blocked Evan McPherson’s extra point in regulation, the Steelers would’ve lost by one. 

Trubisky didn’t play poorly, but he didn’t take many shots downfield, averaging 5.1 yards per attempt. Head coach Mike Tomlin feared Trubisky throwing costly interceptions. 

“With downfield throwing comes the potential of negativity and turning the ball over,” Tomlin said recently, via ESPN NFL Nation Steelers reporter Brooke Pryor.

Trubisky struggled with turnovers in Chicago, which landed him on the bench. He already faces pressure from first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett, who’s the presumed future of the franchise.

Nonetheless, when the Steelers needed Trubisky to make a play, he connected on a 26-yard strike to tight end Pat Freiermuth, setting up a Chris Boswell’s winning field goal.