NFL 2023: Here's What Steelers have to say after 'Getting Kicked in The Teeth' by San Fransico 49ers

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the regular season with high hopes and a perfect preseason record, but those aspirations were crushed with a 30-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The game exposed multiple areas of concern for the Steelers, leaving players and coaches searching for answers.
In stark contrast to the receivers who thrived in August, the Steelers found their passing lanes blocked and quarterback Kenny Pickett constantly under pressure. Pickett was sacked five times, and his passing accuracy faltered, as he completed 31 of 46 attempts for 232 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.
Reflecting on the offensive struggles, Pickett admitted, "We didn't execute anywhere near the level that we need to or want to. Have to get a lot better."
The most concerning aspect for the Steelers was their inability to generate momentum when the game was still competitive. They failed to secure a single first down in their first five possessions, either punting or turning the ball over, allowing the 49ers to build a 20-point lead.
Center Mason Cole expressed disappointment, saying, "It's a little disappointing, but there's nobody to blame but ourselves."
While the Steelers' star outside linebacker T.J. Watt had an impressive performance with three sacks, the defense as a whole struggled. They allowed the 49ers' Christian McCaffrey to accumulate 152 yards rushing, including a 65-yard sprint down the sideline early in the second half that essentially put the game out of reach.
The Steelers found themselves on the field for extended periods, with the 49ers controlling time of possession, yardage, and the flow of the game. This was a stark contrast to their preseason success, where they started fast in all three phases.
However, the Steelers are quite optimistic about the loss while understanding the need for improvement and learning from their mistakes.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin had also acknowledged the need for change, stating, "You can't start games 0-5 on third down and think you're going to have the type of day that you desire." Tomlin emphasized the importance of learning from this loss and focusing on a better performance in the upcoming games.