When a team that’s a heavy favorite to compete for the Super Bowl scores a touchdown on a blocked punt two minutes and 16 seconds into the 2017 regular season, one might be inclined to think the next 957 minutes and 44 seconds are going to be smooth sailing.
But while the Steelers’ 2017 campaign certainly was successful, the ride was far from smooth.
The bumpy road seemed to start mere days after a disappointing 36-17 loss to the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game to close out Pittsburgh’s 2016 quest for that ever-elusive seventh Lombardi trophy.