Mike McCarthy says the Pittsburgh Steelers offense will not keep asking Aaron Rodgers to throw 40 times while its running backs receive only 18 carries. His preferred Steelers run game starts north of 25 attempts and approaches 30 when the game unfolds the way he prefers.
Rodgers completed 24 of 40 passes for 221 yards in Pittsburgh’s 20-13 victory over Atlanta. Jaylen Warren gained 46 yards on 10 carries, while Rico Dowdle managed just 15 yards on eight attempts. Three Rodgers kneel-downs produced the official total of 21 rushes, but unless victory formation has become a scheme, those aren’t run-game plays.
"Aaron Ball" isn't McCarthy's blueprint. But Pittsburgh led from the second quarter onward and possessed the ball for nearly 29 minutes, so the circumstances didn’t require him to throw 40 times.
Pittsburgh Steelers penalties cannot fully excuse Mike McCarthy’s pass-heavy opener vs. Atlanta Falcons
“We won’t live in that world,” McCarthy said, adding, “I definitely would like to be north of 25 [carries] each and every week.”
The penalties and ugly down-and-distance situations were big factors. A Dylan Cook facemask wiped out a Rodgers scramble and left Pittsburgh facing second-and-16. A delay penalty followed, producing third-and-20. DK Metcalf’s offensive pass interference erased a 19-yard completion and created another third-and-15. Pittsburgh finished 3-of-13 on third down and failed on both fourth-down attempts.
That explains some of the imbalance, but doesn’t excuse all of it.
McCarthy: “We won’t live in that world.” Big Mike explains run game struggles. And one dimensional Steelers offense. Let’s be honest. The o-line stunk. pic.twitter.com/ojEofz41IL
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) September 13, 2026
The good news is it's only Week 1, and Pittsburgh has the bodies to spread the work around. They just need time to gel -- they didn't have much work together in the preseason with Metcalf and Pittman missing so much time.
Warren and Dowdle combined for 29 carries and targets, confirming the new backfield tandem. Even after the fumble, Warren earned more rushing work. Dowdle’s 1.9 yards per attempt was disappointing and shouldn't automatically buy him another dozen handoffs.
McCarthy also wants Rodgers to develop a passing game capable of making it to -- and surviving -- the postseason, which makes sense given the more modern offensive structure the Steelers didn't have under Mike Tomlin.
But 42 dropbacks, counting two sacks, cannot become the weekly price of that development. A functional rushing attack creates manageable downs, protects Rodgers, and keeps a defense-first roster from spending the game rescuing an offense that scored only 13 points.
In Week 2, the vaunted New England Patriots will make that workload tougher to reach. But if Pittsburgh manages to play from ahead and the running backs don’t approach 25 carries, McCarthy’s play-calling will need another look.
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