The Steelers got out of Week 1 with a win, but their backfield usage left a strange impression. Pittsburgh beat Atlanta 20-13 despite running the ball only 21 times, and the way the snaps were split made the afternoon tougher than it needed to be.
Jaylen Warren did what he’s been doing: making the offense go. In 2025, he piled up 958 rushing yards on 211 carries and added 40 catches on 45 targets for 333 receiving yards.
That 1,291-yard all-purpose total was a lifeline for an offense that had trouble moving the ball. When Pittsburgh needed someone to keep drives alive, Warren was the reliable chain mover.
That’s why the Week 1 usage stood out so much. Warren finished with 46 of Pittsburgh’s 58 rushing yards and posted 73 scrimmage yards on 15 total touches.
But the snap count told a different story. Rico Dowdle played 39 snaps, 14 more than Warren’s 25, yet he came away with fewer touches, just 10, and only 21 scrimmage yards.
That doesn’t make sense.
Warren’s value was obvious every time he turned Aaron Rodgers’ check-downs into something more. His speed, elusiveness, and quickness give defenders problems, and that kind of player should be on the field as much as possible. He also put the ball on the ground once, and that fumble led to a Falcons touchdown, but it was still the kind of mistake that stood out because it was so out of character for him.
The Steelers entered the season with excitement around a revamped scheme and McCarthy’s reputation as a quarterback whisperer and offensive mastermind. That made the coaching change easier to buy into for fans who want to see Pittsburgh score without so much stress.
But Sunday still ended with only one offensive touchdown, and the team needed T.J. Watt’s interception return for a score to escape with the win.
Pittsburgh got the result it wanted, but the backfield setup looked off. Dowdle can be part of the plan, but Warren is the more explosive player and the better fit for a group still trying to find its rhythm. If the Steelers want this offense to take a real step forward, Warren needs a bigger role.
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For the Steelers secondary, the challenge becomes less about tracking one featured target and more about adjusting to a receiver rotation that can shift from snap to snap. Browns absence removes a familiar centerpiece, but it also leaves Pittsburgh preparing for a more varied New England attack, which can be its own kind of test for a defensive backfield. [Read more 🡒]