Today's game against the Raiders is a must-win for the Steelers. Dropping three games in a row would put them in a difficult position, potentially setting the tone for a rough season. A loss could have serious implications, making this matchup crucial for their momentum.
Pittsburgh needs to focus on three key areas to secure a win and head back home with a renewed sense of confidence. To avoid slipping into a three-game losing streak in Week 6, the Steelers must execute these biggest focuses perfectly.
Communication
The last two games have been a major letdown for the Steelers defense, which was expected to dominate but instead fell flat, delivering back-to-back subpar performances. Given the substantial investment in this unit, they should be performing at an elite level every week.
Yet, during this losing streak, there’s been a troubling pattern of miscommunication across all three levels of the defense.
The Colts and Cowboys both managed to exploit these weaknesses and now, with an upcoming game against a Raiders offense that has struggled and is missing key outside linebackers like Herbig and Highsmith, it's crucial that the defense gets in sync.
The frequent coverage breakdowns that have become a hallmark of nearly every drive need to be addressed immediately. With the offense struggling mightily this season, the Steelers can't afford for their defense to crumble under pressure. This is supposed to be the strength of the team, and it’s time for them to play like it.
Restoring 'Blitzburgh'
As previously mentioned, the Steelers will be without Herbig and Highsmith due to injuries, which means a committee approach will be needed to make up for their production. However, Teryl Austin must also design creative ways to pressure the quarterback.
Simply relying on a four-man rush won't be effective, especially since the Raiders can now concentrate their protection on TJ Watt. While Watt is arguably the best defensive player in the league, expecting him alone to dominate the pass rush is unrealistic. It’s too much to ask of any single player.
Given the speed of the Steelers' linebacker unit, Austin should consider reintroducing a heavy blitz package. With Las Vegas also making a change at quarterback, this is an opportunity to disrupt their rhythm by using varied pressure looks from all over the field, making the new QB’s life as difficult as possible.
Steelers' offense must step up and deliver a fast start
It would be refreshing to see a Steelers team that genuinely competes on offense for a change, especially since it feels like ages since we've witnessed that. It's not asking for too much, especially with so much at stake for this offense.
First and foremost, they need to start fast, putting up points early and maintaining an aggressive approach throughout the game. The conservative strategy has repeatedly come back to haunt them. It’s high time for the Steelers to trust their offense to secure victories instead of relying solely on their defense.
Given that the Raiders are struggling with injuries, this is the perfect opportunity to capitalize. The offense needs to step up, especially since the stakes are high for several players. For Justin Fields, another poor performance or loss could mean losing his job to Russell Wilson when they face the Jets next week. Meanwhile, if Najee Harris struggles to find any rhythm on the ground, I could easily see him taking a backseat to a healthy Jaylen Warren on Sunday.
Lastly, the wide receiver corps needs to improve significantly. Aside from George Pickens, whose effort is sometimes questionable, no one has truly emerged as a consistent threat. The leash is getting shorter for these wideouts, particularly for Van Jefferson, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Steelers look to make a trade for another receiver.
So many players need to step up. Can this finally be the game where the offense plays four full quarters of competitive football? Or will it be another week of frustration for Steelers fans?