Traditionally, an NFL team’s opening script is having roughly the first 15 plays of a game mapped out. So the offense knows exactly what they’re going to run to begin the game. It’s also a fact-finding mission to see exactly how a defense will respond to different personnel groupings, formations, and playcalls.
Like everything else, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense has struggled here. A lot. According to data collected by researcher Arjun Menon, Pittsburgh easily has the worst Expected Points Added (EPA) of the first 15 plays, “the script,” of any team in football. You’ll see the Steelers all alone to the left side, a place you don’t want to be.