3 reasons the Pittsburgh Steelers are the best team in the NFL right now
Ben Roethlisberger is back. He is making this offense play up to its potential and it can be terrifying.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are averaging 30.5 points per game in 2020. That is over 12 more points than they averaged in 2019. The Steelers have never averaged 30 points per game over the course of an entire season in franchise history. They have a chance to do it this year. This offense has been consistently balanced throughout the season. They have spread the ball around all over through the air utilizing the likes of Ray-Ray McCloud, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, James Washington, Eric Ebron, Vance Macdonald, and James Conner throughout the season.
They have been consistently rotating players and personnel depending on the looks they are getting from their opponents. They are allowing opposing defenses to take away any level they want simply because they have guys that excel at every level. If a defense takes the deep ball away, the short passing game with JuJu and Johnson is there. If they press then, Chase Claypool and James Washingon are hauling in deep touchdowns. They have enough talent and versatility that I don’t think a single team in the league will be able to fully shut down this passing attack with Ben getting the ball out so quickly and the offensive line blocking so well.
The running game has been back in a great way too. James Conner is averaging a career-high 4.7 yards per carry through 6 games this season and the threat of the passing game has taken some defenders out of the box. He is taking full advantage of the opportunity and is making a tremendous case to be resigned to the Steelers at the end of the season.
Rookie Anthony McFarland Jr. is also finding himself on the field more and more as the season is progressing. His top tier speed is becoming the perfect change of pace for this rushing attack. The Steelers have found a way to make their running game even more versatile by using sweeps to guys like Ray-ray McCloud, Diontae Johnson, and Chase Claypool.
All in all, this is the most balanced offense I have seen the Steelers have in my lifetime. If Ben is on, then this offense will find the end zone multiple times every game.