The Steelers overcame short-term absences of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with acceptable results in the past, most famously when they went 3-1 while he sat because of a four-game suspension to start the 2010 season.
They reached the Super Bowl that year. This is different.
Previously, they could call on some of the best defenses in the NFL to button down things and keep games close for Charlie Batch, Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon, who replaced Roethlisberger.
This was to be the season in which Roethlisberger and his team’s dynamic offense would carry a young, transitioning defense, especially early.