The Steelers’ latest surge showed up where it counts most: the standings and the rankings. After Sunday’s 6-2 start and a blowout win over the Browns, Pittsburgh is alone in first place in the AFC North and drawing a little more national respect heading into the bye week.
The performance against Cleveland gave voters plenty to chew on. Pittsburgh held the Browns to six points, piled up eight sacks on Deshaun Watson, and ran for 200 yards with three touchdowns. The offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, and the ground game did the heavy lifting in a game that never felt close.
That kind of showing helped the Steelers climb in several power rankings, even if not everyone is fully sold yet.
ESPN moved Pittsburgh up one spot to No. 13, though the Steelers still sit behind the Bengals at No. 10 despite owning the better record.
The Athletic had Pittsburgh at No. 12, a one-spot rise from No. 13. Chad Graff and Josh Kendall pointed to Jaylen Warren’s production, noting that five of his top nine career rushing games have come this season.
The Sporting News placed the Steelers at No. 8. Vinnie Iyer highlighted the run game and also noted that Pittsburgh’s defense is allowing just 83.9 rushing yards per game, which ranks third in the NFL.
Bleacher Report slotted the Steelers at No. 9, moving them into the top 10. Kris Knox wrote that the team “could have a complete roster capable of challenging the AFC’s top contenders” if it adds a receiver before the trade deadline.
Pro Football Talk was even higher on Pittsburgh, bumping the Steelers from No. 10 to No. 8. Mike Florio said he is warming up to the idea of a 12-win season because the “schedule is lining up favorably.”
USA Today was the outlier, keeping Pittsburgh at No. 13.
Nate Davis had been reluctant to give the Steelers a major rise in recent weeks, and after the blowout win, he still left them at No. 13.
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George Pickens Is Reminding Steelers Fans Why Pittsburgh Moved On
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Those worries are resurfacing in Dallas, where Pickens has also been managing a shoulder injury while trying to settle in. For Steelers fans, it is a familiar reminder of why the organization chose to move on: the production was real, but so were the frustrations, and the latest chapter suggests the same questions are still attached to his game. [Read more 🡒]
T.J. Watt Just Added More Weight To A Familiar Browns Problem
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For the Browns, the frustration is becoming familiar whenever Watt lines up across from them. His latest impact only adds to a long-running problem for Cleveland, and it comes as Pittsburgh continues to lean on his production while sitting at 6-2. Watt has been a steady force all year, and the Browns are just the latest team to be left dealing with the aftermath. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Fans Are Asking If This 6-2 Start Feels Different
The Steelers head into their bye week at 6-2, and for once the conversation around a strong start does not feel like it is automatically drifting toward the usual cautionary tale. There is still plenty to sort through, especially with injuries and a demanding schedule ahead, but this group has given fans a reason to wonder whether the early record is more than a temporary surge.
What makes the discussion interesting is the sense that this team may be built a little differently than some recent Steelers squads that flashed early and then faded when the season tightened. The next stretch will say a lot about whether Pittsburgh can keep stacking wins and turn a promising first half into something that lasts into January. [Read more 🡒]