PITTSBURGH – Fresh off their first win of the season, the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves preparing for a test that feels like a playoff matchup in September. DK LaFleur’s squad, now 1–1, will travel to face the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team that was the AFC’s number one seed just a season ago. But as the league calendar flips to Week 3, something about this year’s Jaguars feels… different.
Once the conference’s gold standard of consistency, Jacksonville enters this week in unfamiliar territory at 0–2 and searching for answers. Losses to the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens have left the reigning AFC runner-up reeling, and the chatter around the league has begun to shift from championship expectations to questions about whether they can rediscover last season’s dominance.
For Pittsburgh, the challenge is clear: take advantage of a wounded heavyweight before it finds its footing.
Jacksonville’s Sudden Struggles
It wasn’t long ago that the Jaguars were being praised as one of the most complete teams in the Premier Madden League. A high-powered offense, a disciplined defense, and a head coach with a reputation for game-planning precision made them the team to beat in the AFC. They steamrolled through the regular season last year, capturing the top seed before falling just short of a Super Bowl berth in a heartbreaking AFC Championship loss.
Now, only two games into the new campaign, the Jaguars look like a team still trying to remember how to win. Their opener against Indianapolis saw them outmatched at the line of scrimmage, struggling to establish rhythm on offense. Then came Baltimore, which is a physical, relentless team that forced turnovers and controlled the tempo. The result: two losses and a growing sense of frustration in Duval County.
Trevor Lawrence, who was once the steady heartbeat of the offense, has faced pressure on nearly every dropback. Even the defense, known for its toughness and opportunism, has given up chunk plays in critical moments.
That combination has turned what was supposed to be a contender’s start into an early-season identity crisis. And yet, if history has shown anything about Jacksonville, it’s that they rarely stay down for long.
“They’re still the team that went 14–3 last season,” Coach DK LaFleur said in his weekly presser. “Records can lie this early. You don’t judge a team like Jacksonville by two games, you judge them by how they respond. And I expect their best.”
Pittsburgh’s Momentum Shift
The Steelers, meanwhile, come into the matchup with renewed confidence after their 45–28 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Desmond Ridder was nearly flawless, completing 79 percent of his passes for 381 yards and 4 touchdowns. Amon-Ra St. Brown looked every bit the elite receiver Pittsburgh hoped for when they acquired him, torching the Saints secondary for 120 yards and 3 scores.
For the first time this season, the Steelers offense found rhythm, balance, and trust. The passing game hummed, the protection held, and even when New Orleans pushed back, Ridder and company answered.
Defensively, Pittsburgh bent but refused to break, forcing two critical turnovers, including another defensive touchdown by Jaylen Watson, which is his second in as many games. Those splash plays changed the entire tone of the game, a reminder that the Steelers’ defense can still win moments even when it gives up yards.
That resilience will be tested again this week against Jacksonville’s physical offensive front and potent air attack.
Keys to the Matchup
If the Steelers are going to move to 2–1, they’ll need to maintain the balance that worked so effectively in Week 2. Nate Carter’s 13 carries may not have lit up the box score, but they provided the stability that kept defenses honest. LaFleur has emphasized that keeping opponents off-balance is central to his offensive philosophy.
“We’re at our best when we can dictate pace,” LaFleur said. “That doesn’t mean running it forty times, but it means keeping them guessing. If the defense doesn’t know what’s coming, that’s when Desmond can pick you apart.”
That’s exactly the formula Pittsburgh will look to apply against Jacksonville’s defense, which is a unit that remains talented but hasn’t looked cohesive. If Ridder continues to make smart reads and St. Brown continues his hot streak, those vulnerabilities could become opportunities.
On the other side of the ball, the Steelers defense faces perhaps its toughest test yet. Trevor Lawrence remains one of the most capable passers in the league, even in defeat. His ability to read blitzes and make adjustments at the line is elite, and if Pittsburgh fails to generate consistent pressure, it could be a long day.
That means T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Derrick Harmon will have to set the tone early. Containing Jacksonville’s running game is also crucial, as the Jaguars’ offense tends to thrive when both options are available to them.
And then there’s Jaylen Watson. With touchdowns in back-to-back weeks, the young cornerback has become a lightning rod for big moments. LaFleur smiled when asked if Watson’s defensive magic might continue.
“He’s just got that look right now,” LaFleur said. “You can tell when a guy’s playing with confidence. He’s seeing the field differently. When the ball’s in the air, he believes it’s his.”
A Mental Test as Much as a Physical One
Both teams enter this game fighting to define who they are. For Jacksonville, it’s about regaining the swagger that made them feared across the AFC. For Pittsburgh, it’s about proving that last week wasn’t a one-time performance, but that the chemistry between Ridder and his playmakers is real, that the defense can still deliver under pressure, and that LaFleur’s vision for this team is taking shape.
“This is a measuring stick game,” LaFleur said. “You want to see where you stand. They were the top seed last year for a reason. They’ve got the talent, the coaching, and the experience. We’ve got to match that energy and out-execute them.”
In a league defined by fine margins, this Week 3 clash could tell us plenty about the AFC’s balance of power. One team is desperate to climb out of an early hole, the other is trying to prove it belongs among the elite.
When the Steelers and Jaguars line up this weekend, it won’t just be about who starts faster, but it’ll be about who finishes stronger.
– Forged In Steel Times
