Photo: steelers.com
The Pittsburgh Steelers couldn’t have asked for a better setup going into Week 6. A 3-1 record, the AFC North divisional lead, a bye week that also served as a reset button – all without lifting a finger in Week 5. That came apart a bit in Week 7 in a close loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Yet, for a team that has looked both dominant and disjointed at times, the next few weeks will determine whether early season success can translate into something lasting.
Mike Tomlin’s group used the first quarter of the 2025 season to remind the league what resilience looks like. Pittsburgh escaped a chaotic shootout against the Jets in Week 1, stumbled in Seattle, then rebounded with gritty wins over New England, Minnesota, and Cleveland.
Aaron Rodgers has steadied the ship but not ignited it, averaging under 200 passing yards per game. D.K. Metcalf has delivered, but the supporting cast of receivers has been mostly invisible in favor of more tight end usage. Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell have shown bursts in the ground game, yet consistency from week to week has been harder to achieve.
Pittsburgh’s ups and downs on offense has made them one of the toughest teams for bettors to figure out. On major California betting apps, which offer in-depth stats and real-time market insights, many fans followed the shifting odds live, watching Pittsburgh’s resilience translate into one of their most balanced performances, offensively, of the season in Week 7 despite the loss.
While the Steelers were resting, the rest of the division fell apart. Baltimore got blown up by Houston, Cincinnati went down again without Joe Burrow, and Cleveland lost a heart-breaker overseas. Things have changed just a bit since Week 7. The AFC North standing demonstrate Pittsburgh is in control of its own destiny but Cincinnati is knocking on the door because the Steelers couldn’t seal the deal.
A win would have given the Steelers a sizeable lead in the division with a 5-1 record. Instead, a defensive breakdown tainted the game against the Bengals with the unmistakable flavor of trap game.
If the early-season offense made headlines, the defense took them back until last weekend. Over their two games prior to the wheels falling off in Cincy, Pittsburgh had been back to looking like the Steel Curtain of old – relentless pursuit, disciplined coverage, and anchored by a pass rush that finally looked like it was gelling together.
Six sacks and two interceptions against the Vikings in Ireland highlighted the turn around. The communication problems which marred the first two weeks started to disappear, replaced by a more synchronised approach at all three levels. Veterans at the helm, rookies contributing, and the team’s swagger was back.
Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins just beat up the Vikings for more than 100 yards, but the Steelers were also able to bottle him up the following week, limiting the back to 36 yards.
And then Joe Flacco and Ja’Marr Chase brought the Steelers defense to needing to get back in control.
Throwback week‼️@pat_fry5 | #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/CkfQu5Bzu7
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 21, 2025
With the trade deadline not far away, Pittsburgh could consider making some moves, but whether Omar Khan pulls the trigger or not, the message is clear: the Steelers can’t afford to stand pat. They have assembled a roster that can grind out wins, but they need a spark – a difference between making the playoffs and another fade in the middle of the season.
That begins with dominating during the toughest mid-season slate in the league.
Their first challenge is the Green Bay Packers. The Packers enter the game as slight favorites — ESPN lists them with about a 55 % chance of winning at Pittsburgh. Green Bay’s offense, led by quarterback Jordan Love, is producing: they have 1,438 passing yards so far this season with 10 TDs and just 2 INTs. The Packers are capable of sustaining drives and executing in key situations.
The narrative around Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers versus another former team he played with adds a layer of emotion that could motivate the Packers beyond just the schematic game-plan. It could also motivate Rodgers, who showed the New York Jets how he felt about time spent with that organization with a Steelers victory.
For Pittsburgh the way forward lies in balance. The defense has carried games, but can they do so during the remaining season? No. They’ve shown, just recently, that they need the offense and special teams engaged to have success.
Rodgers and company on offense need to find rhythm – especially in maintaining drives and completing red-zone chances. The offensive line has shown improvement and the multiple tight end packages are aiding in both the run and passing game.
Defensively, T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward need to use their status as captains to help recreate cohesion that turns into dominance if this team wants to take control of games and not react to them.
The good news? The locker room is focused and – for once – ahead of schedule. Tomlin’s teams have been known to dig themselves out of a hole; this year, the task is to keep on track and exceed expectations.
At 4-2, the Steelers have earned optimism. At the same time, they’ve created just enough ambiguity to keep themselves honest. The following month of tough opponents will determine if they’re serious contenders or just lucky early-starters.
The AFC North may be unpredictable still, but one thing seems certain: Pittsburgh can find its footing again. The task the Steelers face, moving forward, is proving they have staying power.
