5 Players That Will Have Huge Games in Steelers-49ers

The Steelers and 49ers will welcome a new season as they face off at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday. In the first meaningful game of the year, the teams must look sharp to beat each other with two stacked sides. Who are five players that should stick out in this game and have huge impacts?

Nick Bosa and T.J. Watt

I’m putting these two together because they’re in the same bucket. Two elite edge rushers that can wreck games at any moment. But in this matchup, the mismatches facing each player are glaring on paper. It could be a battle of the titans. Who can take over this game more?

Dan Moore Jr. and Chuks Okorafor each have a tough assignment this week. It’s Bosa since he flips to each side. Moore is under more pressure with Broderick Jones on his back. However, Bosa can win in the book through speed, power, and anyway. That is why he is one of the best edge rushers in the NFL if not the best right now. Moore and Okorafor have to prove they can raise their game to the next level and help Kenny Pickett get the time he needs to push the ball down the field.

Conversely, Colton McKivitz will have to try and stop Watt. With only 68 snaps a year ago, McKivitz is stepping into the starting lineup after impressing the 49ers. They let Mike McGlinchey walk, but anyone who enters the conversation for their first start against Watt could be in for a long day. In these matchups repeatedly, it has been Watt who is the one dominating the line of scrimmage. While George Kittle will likely come over and help McKivitz, the Steelers need Watt to wreck this game and create some turnovers. He did that against Joe Burrow a year ago to help them pull off the win in Cincinnati.

Brandon Aiyuk

Is he the forgotten man of the 49ers offense? That might just be what happens with this Steelers defense. It’s hard to contend with Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey. But if you can slow them down, here comes the criminally underrated Brandon Aiyuk. A speed threat with elite YAC skills, Aiyuk checks all the boxes of a quintessential Kyle Shanahan wide receiver. Here is the thing about Aiyuk that makes the Steelers prone to his game — that speed. Joey Porter Jr. even acknowledged what Aiyuk can do.

“That guy brings a lot to the table,” Porter said. “He’s a really underrated receiver, in my opinion. He brings a lot to the table. I’m excited to go up against him, see how I stack up against him, and it’s football at the end of the day, so we’ll see who will win.”

Pittsburgh’s group lacks the speed to keep up with a guy like Aiyuk. I think there could be a little bit more scoring in this game than most people think. That’s just a hunch, but Aiyuk’s presence makes me think the 49ers will crack through for a few explosive plays. He runs the entire route tree from various alignments, and Pittsburgh has to match the dynamic ability. It’s going to be complicated with all the other standouts. I would not be surprised if Aiyuk goes off.

Diontae Johnson

On the other side of the spectrum, I believe the Steelers have a receiver that the 49ers secondary has a strict time matchup ip against. If George Pickens is covered by Charvarius Ward all game, which he should be, then Johnson will draw Deommodore Lenoir and Ambry Thomas. I’ll take Johnson in those matchups with his smooth route running. Johnson and Kenny Pickett have a much better understanding of one another this year, and their chemistry is noticeably a step up.

Lenoir had a passer rating allowed of 103.8 last year when targeted. The bigger, more physical receivers were the types that Lenoir stepped up to play well against. During the stretch playoff run, he started to put things together. But those shifty route runners can still give Lenoir some trouble. A guy like Johnson matches up well in this circumstance. Lenoir will be a challenge, though.

Thomas played little last year but has plenty of experience from his 2021 season. Still, in nickel, when Lenoir slides inside, the advantage of that matchup goes in the favor of Johnson all the way. Johnson can be the chain mover and a guy who creates that natural separation in this game.

Minkah Fitzpatrick

This feels like the type of game that Minkah Fitzpatrick thrives in with all the weapons around the 49ers offense. A young quarterback, Brock Purdy, is as good as he gets in remaining on schedule and executing the Shanahan offense. But he has not seen someone like Fitzpatrick, who can be advanced enough to ad-lib and play out of the structure of average defensive plays. He is known for being elite in that robber role, and for good reason. Fitzpatrick wrecked last year’s Week 1 win against the Bengals, including a pick-six on Joe Burrow.

Fitzpatrick will have his hands complete with Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle bringing challenges to his plate, but it seems like he can take his game to another level whenever a challenge is at his feet. Look for him to potentially nab an interception in this one and play a significant role all over the field.