The Steelers’ trip to Tampa Bay comes with a number attached to it, and for now the market leans Pittsburgh’s way.
FanDuel Sportsbook opened the Steelers as 2.5-point favorites on the road for Sunday’s Week 6 matchup, with an over/under of 40.5 and Pittsburgh listed at -144 on the moneyline. The number is still fluid, though, and it figures to shift if Baker Mayfield is cleared to play for Tampa Bay. Right now, the line is pointing toward rookie Jadon Daniels starting again for the Bucs.
That setup follows a strong showing from Pittsburgh in a win over the Indianapolis Colts, a game the Steelers survived despite injuries hitting their wide receiver group. Jaylen Warren kept producing like one of the NFL’s best backs, and that workload looks set to continue even with Rico Dowdle back in the mix. Germie Bernard also moved into a bigger role and came through for the offense.
The matchup lands at a useful moment for the AFC North race, which is already tight. All four teams are above .500, with the Ravens leading at 4-1 and the other three clubs sitting at 3-2.
Cleveland technically holds second place after beating Pittsburgh, but its -19 point differential does not look built to last. The Steelers are at 2 in point differential, and that number is one they need to improve.
Tampa Bay is coming off a win in Dallas, but Pittsburgh’s challenge remains the same: handle business and avoid a slip. Whether Mayfield or Daniels is under center, the Steelers’ defense cannot afford a letdown. With the division packed so tightly, every week matters, and Pittsburgh has to keep pace if it wants to stay in control of its own fate.
The defense will have to be ready for pressure, too. Todd Bowles’ unit is expected to blitz often, and that could open the door for Aaron Rodgers to work quickly underneath. It should also mean more chances for Warren in the passing game, especially on screens and checkdowns.
In Other News...
Steelers May Have Found A Timely Answer On The Defensive Line
A fresh body showed up on the Steelers defensive line in Week 5, and Gabriel Rubio made the most of his first regular-season appearance against the Colts. The rookie tackle was used in a limited role, but his presence fit neatly into Pittsburghs run defense plan and gave the staff a useful look at a player who had yet to see game action.
Rubios impact was most noticeable in the situations where the Steelers needed him to hold his ground and help narrow running lanes. Even in a small sample, he looked effective when asked to do the dirty work inside, which matters for a defense that has had to piece together answers up front. The bigger question now is whether that debut can turn into a more regular role as the weeks move on. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Fans Have Another Reason To Question Omar Khans Trade Judgment
The George Pickens trade has become an uncomfortable comparison point for the Steelers, especially with Pickens settling in well for Dallas while Pittsburghs return has not looked nearly as robust. Any time a deal like that starts to age, it tends to drag general manager Omar Khans judgment back into the conversation, and this one has been no exception as fans continue to measure what the Steelers gave up against what they got back.
The contrast has only sharpened because another receiver move involving Marvin Harrison Jr. has given the market a clearer benchmark, and Pittsburghs package looks lighter next to it. With the draft capital involved in that deal, the Steelers side of the ledger has been left looking thin, which is why the Pickens trade is now being used as another example of why Khans recent decisions are drawing scrutiny. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Offense Suddenly Looks Different And Aaron Rodgers Is Why
Over the last three weeks, the Steelers offense has started to look like a different unit, and the numbers back it up. Since Week 3, Pittsburgh has ranked fourth in EPA per play, a sharp rise for a group that spent much of the early season searching for rhythm. Aaron Rodgers has been at the center of the turnaround, throwing nine touchdown passes and piling up 827 yards in that stretch, while the passing game has found a steadier flow around him.
The lift has not come from Rodgers alone. Jaylen Warren has given the Steelers a needed spark out of the backfield, Pat Freiermuth has been a reliable target in the middle of the field, and rookie Germie Bernard has started to add another layer to the attack. For a team that needed its offense to settle in quickly, the past three games have offered a promising glimpse of what this group can look like when the pieces start clicking together. [Read more 🡒]