The Steelers’ 20-3 loss to the Patriots did more than drop them in the standings. It sent them tumbling through the NFL’s power rankings, where the reactions range from mild concern to full-blown alarm.
Pittsburgh’s defense did its part again, holding New England to 20 points after allowing only 13 in each of the first two games. But the offense never found a rhythm, barely moving the ball against a Patriots defense that controlled the afternoon. That imbalance is exactly what has the league buzzing now.
The harshest reading comes from the outlets that see a team with a real offensive problem. NFL.com dropped the Steelers to No. 26, with Nick Shook writing: “It’s difficult to reconcile the dichotomy that currently defines the Steelers.
Their defensive front is one of the most complete in football and has caused major issues for the first two offenses it has faced, yet their offense remains abysmal. Mike McCarthy’s arrival permitted Aaron Rodgers to play more aggressively, but Pittsburgh’s offensive line has regressed, the running game is nonexistent and DK Metcalf has been one of the least reliable receivers in football through two weeks.
Add in Rodgers’ age and general lack of mobility under pressure (SEE: his two fumbles in Sunday’s defeat), and you have an inept unit. It’s unfair to ask the defense to carry the Steelers on a weekly basis.”
ESPN wasn’t far behind at No. 25, and Brooke Pryor pointed to the pressure numbers that have become impossible to ignore: “So far this season, Rodgers has completed just 8 of 24 attempts on 31 dropbacks under pressure. He has been sacked six times on such plays.
Rodgers is also completing a career-low 50% against the blitz, as his off-target percentage on such throws is a career-worst 30.4%. While the offensive line’s struggles have significantly contributed to Rodgers’ inaccuracy, his decreased mobility at 42 years old has made it even more difficult to manage the pressure.”
Yahoo! Sports put Pittsburgh at No. 23, and Frank Schwab focused on how pass-heavy the offense has become: “The Steelers have 81 passing attempts, which is third in the league, and they’re passing about 65% of the time despite not being in pass-only mode much of the season.
The Steelers never trailed by more than four points in Week 1 and the game didn’t get away from them Sunday until a Rodgers fumble was returned for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Mike McCarthy has just made a decision to pass it over and over like it’s 2011 with Rodgers.
Pittsburgh has one offensive touchdown in eight quarters with that approach”.
USA Today was even more down on the team, slotting the Steelers at No. 27.
Nate Davis wrote: “It’s been 16 years since HC Mike McCarthy and QB Aaron Rodgers spearheaded an offense that … produced three points. It’s also been 16 years since McCarthy and Rodgers won a Super Bowl together, so …”
CBS Sports had Pittsburgh at No. 22, barely moving the Steelers from last week’s No. 20 spot. Pete Prisco kept it simple: “The offense isn’t doing a lot so far this season, which has to be a concern.
The defense played well enough to win at New England.” Mike Florio added: “Remember when the unofficial media talking point was Mike McCarthy’s high level of attention to detail?”
The Athletic placed the Steelers at No. 21, down from No. 16, and Chad Graff and Josh Kendall noted that the offensive line’s rough day could force a bigger role for one of the team’s young tackles. They also pointed to rookie Kaden Wetjen’s work as a returner and third-round quarterback Drew Allar’s place on the roster.
Their take: “The first-round tackle is only getting a couple of snaps a game, but that might change with how bad the offensive line looked Sunday. Only the Falcons are saving the Steelers from having the worst EPA in the league (minus-42.94).
Fourth-round wide receiver Kaden Wetjen doesn’t have a catch yet but has made an impact as a returner. The best pick of this year’s group may be third-round quarterback Drew Allar, who made the 53-man roster but probably won’t play unless Aaron Rodgers gets hurt.”
Ralph Vacchiano also raised the possibility that the quarterback situation could turn quickly if the struggles continue: “If that’s the way Aaron Rodgers is going to play, his last ride might be a short one. At some point, the Steelers may have to take a look at rookie Drew Allar.”
The rankings are all over the map, but the overall message is clear: the Steelers’ defense is keeping them afloat, and the offense is dragging hard. Some voters are merely skeptical. Others are already sounding the siren.
Pittsburgh now gets what feels like a pivotal home game against the 2-0 Cincinnati Bengals. Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers will need a much cleaner performance, because the Steelers offense has a lot to fix in a hurry.
In Other News...
Joey Porter Jr. Just Sparked A Steelers Debate He Can't Win
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The numbers behind those games paint a more complicated picture for Porter and the Steelers. Across the past three seasons, Chase and Higgins have consistently found production when Porter has been on the field, while his own coverage grades against Cincinnati have bounced around from game to game. It leaves Porter in a familiar spot for a young corner in a division that never lets anyone off the hook: the debate is already bigger than the quote, and the next meeting is the only place he can really settle it. [Read more 🡒]
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For now, Brock Hoffman is the only fully healthy guard on the roster, which makes the upcoming matchup with Cincinnati a little more complicated than the Steelers likely wanted. Even with Anderson on the field, the groups availability is suddenly a real storyline heading into a divisional game, and Pittsburgh will be watching closely to see how much it can trust its interior options when the game plan starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Backfield Decision Just Got A Lot More Serious Before Bengals
The Steelers backfield picture got a little murkier this week with Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle both limited or missing practice because of injuries, leaving Pittsburgh with fewer clean answers as it prepares for Cincinnati. It is the kind of late-week development that can change how an offense is built, especially when the running game already has to absorb the ripple effects of a crowded injury report.
Pittsburgh has other players showing up as limited or absent, but the running back situation is the one demanding the most attention heading into the Bengals game. Depending on Dowdles availability, the Steelers may need to turn to the practice squad to add depth at the position, which would make Fridays final injury updates especially important. [Read more 🡒]