After a close win over the New York Jets, the Pittsburgh Steelers have plenty of things to correct heading into Week 2 and beyond. Most of the attention in that regard is pointed squarely at the defense, and for good reason. Any attention left over is probably aimed at Broderick Jones, who gave up three sacks.
Little would be left over for Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers' new quarterback had a four-touchdown performance in his debut for the black and gold.
But the comfort Rodgers brings to the quarterback position can be deceptive. Not because of anything he did wrong, but because he overshadowed some concerning aspects of Pittsburgh’s offense in their first showing.
Pittsburgh Steelers play-action success masked a rushing failure
Rodgers was deadly against his former team when he utilized play-action. He went 6 of 8 for 75 yards and three scores when he turned his back to the defense. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Rodgers hadn’t scored as many touchdowns off of play action in a single game since 2016.
However, it’s somewhat ironic that Rodgers was so effective with play action against the Jets since the Steelers had next to no production in the running game. Pittsburgh rushed for just 54 yards with an average of only 2.7 yards per carry.
The running back trio of Jaylen Warren, Kenneth Gainwell, and Kaleb Johnson was a complete non-factor in the season opener. Steelers fans aren’t used to seeing an offense that struggles so much to run the ball, especially if that offense can score 34 points and win. So, with that framing, it’s strange to see Rodgers have his best moments when threatening the defense with a running play.
That said, play action success is not perfectly tied to success in the run game. The susceptibility of the interior defenders to bite on play action has more to do with tendencies, formations, and many other factors that vary too much on a week-to-week basis to properly credit. Still, it’s a wonder if Pittsburgh’s success with play action is sustainable if the ground game doesn’t catch up.
In Week 1, it’s easier to lure the defense in because of the Steelers’ reputation for arrogantly running the football. But as the weeks progress and tendencies change, opposing teams will lean on what the Steelers are doing this season rather than what they have in the past. So, in some respects, it’s reasonable to expect that if the Steelers can’t effectively run the ball, then the play-action success Rodgers enjoyed in Week 1 could dwindle over time.
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The failings in the rushing attack don’t rest solely on the ball carriers or the offensive line. It’s a collective effort that came up short against a talented Jets front seven. Still, the results of Week 1 on the ground aren’t a recipe for success for Pittsburgh this season. If those struggles running the ball continue, Rodgers' job is going to get harder, and that fuzzy feeling after witnessing the best quarterback play Pittsburgh has had over the past half-decade will evaporate in an instant.
It’s easy to overlook the bad stuff with the win and the excitement coming from Rodgers’ impressive debut. But Pittsburgh’s shortcomings, despite the victory, can’t be overlooked. The Steelers have to run the ball better to keep the pressure off of Rodgers and to make sure that he can continue to carve opposing defenses up with play action.