The Steelers have lost their past two games, and while the matchup with Baltimore was closer than the score suggested, this team has fallen on some hard times. The offense has been hard to watch at times without George Pickens, and the defense hasn’t been able to make up the difference.
The team has a short week to try and right the ship, and they face another formable opponent in the Chiefs. All signs point to another tough game. Coming off these losses, it has been natural to overreact to a lot of things. That said, feel free to ignore these overreactions as we head into Week 17.
Steelers' defense isn’t a problem
It has been hard to grade the Steelers' defense over the past few weeks, as they have not been helped a lot by this offense. They are playing a lot of snaps and are clearly tiring out. That said, the Eagles and Ravens both did well throwing the ball against this team while Derrick Henry had his way on the ground.
While the offense should get better once Pickens is back, the defense can’t continue to get rolled over. This offense isn’t built to last this way. It has been a fall from the earlier success that this defense showed. Something needs to click soon for this team if they want to get back on the right track.
Steelers should keep Najee Harris as the bell-cow
Look, Najee Harris is a fine power back who can churn out yards when given the opportunity, but for an offense lacking big plays right now, Jaylen Warren needs to see the majority of snaps. He is versatile and far more explosive as a runner and when the ball gets in his hands. Harris doesn’t provide that kind of play.
That isn’t to say Warren should see all of the snaps. He does his best work when fresh and in a rotation, but there isn’t a good argument as to why Harris should be significantly outsnapping Warren at this point. This offense needs playmakers, and Warren offers significantly more there.
The Steelers can’t beat the Chiefs
While I am not quite on board that the Steelers rebound next week, I think they can make a statement win against a less dominant Kansas City team. I’ve had this matchup circled for a while, as both teams match up well against each other, and while the Steelers have seen some regression, the expectation is that Pickens is back, meaning the offense can get a boost.
That doesn’t lock them into winning this game, but a short week opens the door to a lot more chances than a typical week. If this offense can move the ball like it did earlier and the defense sharpens up a bit, you can’t write off the Steelers. It has been a tough past two games, but this week could turn things around for the team.