This time last week, the Pittsburgh Steelers' season looked like it could be fading fast. They just lost a devastating home game to the Green Bay Packers, largely due to a pitiful defensive effort. The offense was fine, but it wasn't good enough to make up for their shortcomings elsewhere. Too much pressure was being put on the 41-year-old quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, and something had to change.
With the surging Indianapolis Colts coming to town in Week 9, things weren't going to be any easier. Or so we thought.
The Steelers held the league's top offense at bay for the vast majority of the day, coming away with a 27-20 victory that wasn't as close as it looks. The offense wasn't flashy, but they played well enough to complement their defense.
There is plenty of season left, and the defense did something similar to the Patriots earlier in the season, but this improvement may just be here to stay.
The Pittsburgh Steelers looked like a real playoff team in their win over the Colts
Let's start with the obvious: you can't expect your opponent to turn the ball over six times every week. Most of the turnovers Pittsburgh forced were great plays by the defense, but some (like the muffed punt and tipped interception by Jack Sawyer) were more luck than anything.
Still, there were real improvements made by the players and coaching staff in this game. They played faster and more physically than they have at any point this season, and it showed in their pass rush and run defense.
They allowed just 55 yards on the ground on 19 carries, averaging just 2.9 yards per attempt. They sacked quarterback Daniel Jones five times, forcing two fumbles on those sacks as well. Jones had only taken nine sacks coming into the game, and the Colts' offensive line was considered one of the best units in the league.
OPOY candidate Jonathan Taylor had his quietest game of the year, with just 57 total yards and no touchdowns.
It was a reminder that this defense still has some serious talent on it, even if they are older and not always an elite unit anymore.
The offense was far less flashy, but they did just enough to allow the defense to keep the pressure on the Colts. Rodgers was efficient overall, with 203 pass yards and a touchdown. The run game did next to nothing, with just 38 yards on 23 carries, but Jaylen Warren scored twice to give the Steelers a cushion in the fourth quarter.
Was it all pretty? Absolutely not, but the Steelers played the Colts better than any team has all season. It's a massive win that could change the course of their season, especially with the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens surging with Lamar Jackson back in action.
For at least one week, the Steelers can say that they proved their doubters wrong. We will see if they can continue to do that as they enter the second-half of the season.