The Steelers’ Week 4 loss to the Browns didn’t just cost them on the scoreboard. It sent them sliding in the latest round of NFL power rankings, with several national outlets knocking Pittsburgh down after a messy performance that included two Aaron Rodgers interceptions, a shouting match with coach Mike McCarthy and another rough day for the defense.
Pittsburgh had hoped to carry over some momentum from its Week 3 win over the Bengals. Instead, the Browns game brought a hard reset. The Steelers gave up 27 points, matching the 27 they surrendered against Cincinnati, and the overall picture left plenty of observers unimpressed.
ESPN dropped the Steelers three spots to No. 20, putting them one rung behind Cleveland. The site used the same word McCarthy did to describe the team’s play: herky-jerky. ESPN also pointed to a number that will not sit well with Steelers fans, noting that the defense has allowed 24.7 points per game over the past three weeks.
The Athletic also slotted Pittsburgh at No. 20, pairing the ranking with a concern level "as tall as Mike Tomlin's Minecraft high-rise." That outlet framed the Rodgers-McCarthy reunion as something that was supposed to end on a better note than a public sideline argument.
The Sporting News was a little kinder, placing the Steelers at No. 19 after a three-spot drop. Vinnie Iyer said Rodgers has given the offense "more punch," but he also argued that the team is missing Mike Tomlin's influence on defense.
Bleacher Report delivered the steepest fall of the group, sending Pittsburgh from No. 14 to No. 20.
Its assessment included a belief that the Steelers should be shopping for a receiver before the trade deadline. The outlet also highlighted that one of the league's most expensive defenses still has not done enough to carry the team.
Pro Football Talk was more measured, bumping Pittsburgh down one spot to No. 14 while laying out a wide range of possibilities. In its view, the Steelers could finish 9-8, or young quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar could be starting ahead of Aaron Rodgers by Thanksgiving.
USA Today moved the Steelers down three spots to No. 19. That ranking came with the thought that Pittsburgh could have used Joey Porter Jr., who was traded to the Cowboys, against the Browns.
In Other News...
Steelers Fans May See Joey Porter Jr. Trade Very Differently Now
The Cowboys acquisition of Joey Porter Jr. came with the usual instant questions about what comes next, but the early read on his approach may ease some of that anxiety. Rather than pushing immediately for a new deal, Porter is reportedly willing to play out his current contract, which gives Dallas some breathing room as it sorts through the longer-term picture around one of its newest defensive additions.
For Steelers fans, that detail may change the way the move is viewed from afar. Porters market value is estimated at around $27.4 million per year, so the price tag is still substantial, but the bigger issue now appears to be how much security and how many years the Cowboys want to offer when the time comes. The contract conversation is not going away, but the early signs suggest this may be more about fit and timing than any urgent showdown over money. [Read more 🡒]
Missing Steelers Fan Case In Cleveland Just Took A Disturbing Turn
A trip to Cleveland for a football game has turned into a search that now carries real weight. Phoenix Phillips, a 24-year-old from Maryland, was last seen downtown after attending the game, and police have said his disappearance is concerning. His phone was found, adding to the unease around a case that has quickly moved beyond a simple missing-person report.
Authorities have also recovered an unidentified body near the area where Phillips was last known to be, though they have not confirmed any connection. The investigation remains active, and online chatter has added another layer of noise around Phillips, with unverified allegations tying him to unauthorized trading and scamming. For now, though, the only thing that matters is the unanswered question of what happened after he left the game. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers LB Cole Holcomb Shares A Feel Good Life Update
For a Steelers defense still trying to settle in through a 2-2 start, Cole Holcomb has had a more personal milestone to celebrate away from the field. Holcomb and his wife, Casey, welcomed their second child this week, a baby boy named Drew Jarrett, or DJ, adding a bright spot to a season that has already had its share of on-field grind for the veteran inside linebacker.
Holcomb has continued to be part of Pittsburghs mix in the middle of the defense, even as the early weeks have brought a little bit of everything, including an NFL fine for a blindside block on a special teams play in Week 3. The newborn news, though, is the kind of update that can reset a players week in a hurry, and it gives Holcomb and his family a memorable moment as the Steelers move deeper into the season. [Read more 🡒]