The Pittsburgh Steelers are 6-2, and that alone has forced a lot of people to take a second look at what Mike McCarthy is building in his first season in charge.
This isn’t a team that has figured everything out. The offense still hasn’t found a steady rhythm, and explosive plays remain hard to come by. But the Steelers have found ways to win anyway, and McCarthy deserves plenty of credit for that.
Two things have stood out most. First, the offense has been disciplined.
Pittsburgh has been penalized 23 times on offense through eight games, which ranks ninth-fewest in the NFL. In Week 8 against the Cleveland Browns, the offense didn’t get flagged at all, even though the team was penalized five times overall.
Second, the Steelers have done a better job protecting the football than many expected. A lot of that starts with Aaron Rodgers, who has mostly made smart decisions with the ball. He has 13 touchdowns and five interceptions, and several of the turnovers have come on passes that hit receivers in the hands before ending up with defenders.
There has still been some sloppiness from snap to whistle, and the Steelers have lost the ball more than they should have in a few spots. Even so, SumerSports data shows the offense has turned it over eight times in eight games. They’ve fumbled it away six times, but only surrendered possession twice.
McCarthy’s fingerprints are showing up in other places, too. One of his biggest wins has been getting more out of the running backs and tight ends, especially players who were already in the building and had shown flashes before this season.
Jaylen Warren, Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington all fit that description. Each had talent.
Each had upside. Under McCarthy and his staff, each has taken a step forward.
Warren has been at the center of it. For much of his career, he has split work in the backfield.
This year, the offense has been built around him, and the results have been strong. Through eight games, he has 704 rushing yards, good for sixth in the NFL, and his 5.92 yards per carry leads all running backs with at least 50 touches.
He has also added 294 receiving yards, putting him on the doorstep of 1,000 all-purpose yards as the team heads into the bye.
The tight ends have been productive, too. Freiermuth and Washington both sit inside the top 25 among tight ends in receiving yards.
Washington is averaging 13.37 yards per catch, which ranks 11th at the position. Together, they’ve combined for seven receiving touchdowns and become trusted options in the passing game.
The Steelers still have real issues to clean up. Wide receiver depth remains a problem, and that has to be addressed before anyone can seriously call them a true AFC frontrunner.
But with the defense playing at a high level and McCarthy squeezing more production out of key offensive pieces, Pittsburgh has already changed the conversation. More and more doubters are being pushed into believers.
In Other News...
Steelers Trade Chatter Now Involves A Veteran Defender
The Steelers inside linebacker group has been one of the steadier parts of the roster this season, but the trade market may still bring a surprise before the NFLs Nov. 10 deadline. According to Sports Illustrateds Albert Breer, Pittsburgh is at least considering moving a veteran defender who has had only a limited role this year after joining the team in 2023.
The name in the chatter is Cole Holcomb, whose Steelers tenure has already been shaped by a lost 2024 season because of a knee injury. Even with the position playing well, the possibility of shifting a veteran with experience in the room suggests Pittsburgh is still weighing how to balance depth, health and future roster flexibility as deadline season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Get A Huge AFC North Test After Steelers Bye Week
The Steelers head into their bye week with a little momentum after a 27-6 win over the Browns on Nov. 1, a game that showcased both sides of the ball in a way Mike Tomlins team will want to carry forward. Jaylen Warren powered the offense with 143 rushing yards and a touchdown, while the defense piled up eight sacks and forced two turnovers in one of Pittsburghs most complete outings of the season.
When the Steelers return, the schedule tightens quickly with an AFC North trip that always comes with extra weight. Pittsburgh will be back in prime time on Nov. 15 at Paycor Stadium, where the matchup with Cincinnati arrives as an early measuring stick for a team trying to keep its footing in a division that rarely gives anyone much breathing room. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Trade Buzz Puts Two Roster Needs Front And Center
The Steelers are already being linked to the kind of trade chatter that tends to follow a team with clear roster questions and enough season left for the front office to keep its options open. Ahead of the 2027 NFL trade deadline, Pittsburgh has been mentioned in speculative talks around wide receivers and defensive backs, a sign that the club is at least surveying ways to strengthen both sides of the ball if the right deal surfaces.
Among the names floating around are Josh Downs, Hollywood Brown, Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston at receiver, along with Riq Woolen, Donte Jackson, Cam Hart and Amani Hooker in the secondary. Nothing has been confirmed, and for now it is all about possibility rather than movement, but the variety of targets suggests the Steelers are keeping a close eye on more than one path as the deadline approaches. [Read more 🡒]