Photo: steelers.com
Four weeks ago, things weren’t looking particularly good for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Following a disappointing loss in Cleveland, Pittsburgh sat at 2-2 with questions surrounding both sides of the football.
Fast-forward to the Week 9 bye, and the Steelers have won four consecutive games, improved to 6-2, and taken control of the AFC North. Sunday’s 27-6 victory over Cleveland was arguably their most complete performance yet, with improvements along both lines of scrimmage playing a significant role in the turnaround.
That doesn’t mean everything is fixed. There are still areas of concern, but Pittsburgh has put itself in a favorable position entering the second half of the season. Here are five takeaways from the Steelers’ first eight games.
Cleveland found out just how miserable an afternoon against Pittsburgh’s defense can be. The Steelers recorded eight sacks, forced two turnovers, and limited the Browns to just 34 rushing yards. T.J. Watt contributed two sacks, while Patrick Queen finished with 12 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. The Steelers’ official game recap also covers Pittsburgh’s defensive performance against Cleveland.
However, the improvement goes beyond one game. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham acknowledged Monday that the first Cleveland loss was a turning point for him, particularly when it came to listening to his players and building trust.
That communication appears to be paying dividends, as Pittsburgh has become more disciplined against the run and is beginning to eliminate the mistakes that plagued the defense earlier in the season.
Jaylen Warren has emerged as one of Pittsburgh’s most dependable offensive players. After rushing for 101 yards against both Indianapolis and New Orleans, Warren followed those performances with 143 yards on 17 carries against Cleveland, including an explosive 51-yard run.
But Warren isn’t doing it alone. The offensive line deserves considerable credit for Pittsburgh’s improved rushing attack.
Offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio specifically praised center Zach Frazier for his ability to identify defensive fronts, while highlighting guards Brock Hoffman and Mason McCormick for their physicality. That combination has helped Pittsburgh establish the line of scrimmage and take pressure off Aaron Rodgers, something the offense struggled to accomplish consistently earlier in the season.
Aaron Rodgers has delivered some impressive performances, but Pittsburgh’s passing attack hasn’t always been pretty. The 20-3 loss to New England was particularly frustrating, as Rodgers threw for just 187 yards and absorbed four sacks.
Even against Cleveland, Rodgers completed only 13 of 25 passes for 172 yards, although his 58-yard connection with Darnell Washington demonstrated the offense’s explosive potential.
Injuries at wide receiver haven’t helped, but Pittsburgh also needs to improve its red-zone execution. Angelichio acknowledged Monday that the coaching staff must evaluate its play-calling near the goal line, including whether the Steelers should lean more heavily on their increasingly effective running game. Fans tracking how other teams handle similar problems can find additional NFL team news and analysis that offers insight into these challenges.
The Steelers were sitting at 2-2 after losing 27-24 in Cleveland on October 1. It wasn’t a disaster, but another couple of performances like that could have made things uncomfortable for Mike McCarthy and his coaching staff. Instead, Pittsburgh responded with victories over Indianapolis, Tampa Bay, New Orleans, and Cleveland.
The 26-19 overtime win against Tampa Bay required a late comeback, while Sunday’s rematch with the Browns showcased a team capable of controlling the game from start to finish.
The Steelers haven’t necessarily played their best football every week, but they’ve demonstrated an ability to adjust and win in different ways.
Perhaps most encouraging is the improvement along both lines of scrimmage, which has helped establish a more physical identity. Steel City Underground’s breakdown of the Browns victory offers another look at how Pittsburgh handled that matchup.
Pittsburgh enters its bye week in first place, which is a pretty good position considering how September went. However, anyone familiar with the AFC North knows that division races are rarely decided before Thanksgiving.
The Steelers still have two games against Baltimore and another trip to Cincinnati ahead of them.
The Bengals already gave Pittsburgh a difficult game in September, when the Steelers needed a late defensive play to secure a 30-27 victory. Those divisional matchups could have a significant impact on the standings.
There’s also a trip to Philadelphia and a Black Friday meeting with Denver coming up. Fans keeping track of the schedule can check this week’s NFL matchups as the season continues. Pittsburgh has put itself in a good position, but maintaining that advantage won’t be easy.
Six wins in eight games is an encouraging start, especially considering where the Steelers stood a month ago. The defense is beginning to play up to expectations, Warren has emerged as a major offensive weapon, and the offensive line has made significant strides.
Still, the passing game needs more consistency, red-zone efficiency remains a concern, and several difficult opponents await after the bye. McCarthy’s team has demonstrated that it can overcome adversity and make adjustments. The challenge now is sustaining that progress when the competition gets tougher and the stakes get higher.
