The Pittsburgh Steelers currently sit at 6-2 atop the AFC North. For most of the past two decades, that’s not that shocking to hear. Unfortunately, since the end of the Big Ben era, late-season collapses and poor first-round showings have left Pittsburgh fans clamoring for more.
This offseason, they moved on from Mike Tomlin to Mike McCarthy, a move many felt was quite lateral in the coaching world. McCarthy is known for poor late-season performances and has fizzled out of the playoffs many times during the Aaron Rodgers years in Green Bay.
But something about this Steelers team feels different. The defense still blends aging veterans with fun young talent. The QB play still leaves a lot to be desired, but Rodgers hasn’t lost them many games outside of a poor performance in Cleveland. The receiving room has improved, despite DK Metcalf forgetting how to catch half the time, but the running game might turn the Steelers into serious contenders.
In his fifth year as a pro, expectations for Jaylen Warren were quite low. He had never topped 1,000 yards in a season and averaged over 5 yards per carry only once in the previous four seasons. Pittsburgh made substantial improvements up front this offseason, with the most impressive move coming from first-round draft pick Max Iheanachor.
Whether it’s a coaching change, more consistent play from Rodgers, or improved run blocking, Warren has transformed the Steelers’ run game into one of the best in football. You could seriously argue that Warren has been a top-five back in the league this year.
But a hot start isn’t something new for Pittsburgh. They’ve been the most consistent team in the AFC North for years, but are they ready to take the next leap? I’m cautiously positive about them.
The Steelers have made it through the easier part of their schedule; now they’ll be front-page news for the rest of the season. Pittsburgh plays outside the 1:00 window for the next five games, and that is where we will truly find out whether they’re AFC North contenders or Super Bowl contenders.
Pittsburgh will likely be favored in five of their last eight games; the better question is how they will look in the other three. One game in particular will determine whether or not these are the same old Steelers.
In Week 14, the Steelers travel to Jacksonville for Monday Night Football. They’ll be coming off four tough tests in a row; if they can hang with, or even beat, the Jaguars, I will fully believe the Steelers could go on a run in the playoffs.
Currently, the Steelers are +220 to win the AFC North and +1600 to win the AFC. Both have serious value, especially if they can keep running the ball as well as they have.
