The Pittsburgh Steelers dominated the Browns on Sunday and now find themselves atop the AFC North. Heading into the bye week, it feels good to be here, considering how badly this team played earlier this year.
There is still a long road to getting this team into the playoffs and winning an actual playoff game, but the Steelers are in the driver's seat right now. Despite the good record, this team still has an obvious issue on its hands: the passing game has been abysmal.
While this team is still finding ways to win, it doesn't feel sustainable.
Aaron Rodgers is a clear problem. His pocket presence is poor at this point, and his ability to push the ball deep is gone. His veteran presence is a welcome addition to the team and helps, but he isn't helping this offense like you need your quarterback to.
The receiver room is also an issue, and while we may get some reinforcements there, it doesn't feel like it will be enough. This team isn't going anywhere with this passing game at the helm.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are still being hampered by Aaron Rodgers and their passing game
Pittsburgh steamrolled the Browns, but it doesn't tell the entire story for the Steelers. The run game was once again dominant, and Jaylen Warren is continuing his push as one of the best-value running backs in the NFL.
The defense, meanwhile, was dynamic. We saw the defense terrorize the Browns with eight sacks, multiple forced fumbles, and shutting down their running game. Only giving up six points further sweetened the pot.
This has been a similar story as of late for the Steelers. The defense is playing at an extremely high level. In particular, they have been shutting down opposing running games even when faced with an elite running back.
In turn, the Steelers' rushing attack has been elite behind Warren. Add in Rico Dowdle, who is supplementing this attack, and the ground game is firing on all cylinders.
That said, the Steelers have also benefited from playing some less-than-stellar teams as of late. Because of that, they have been able to stick to their script.
I'm not sure what happens when either their own running game gets shut down or they face an offense that can keep pace and score. This will put pressure on the passing game to step up, and I'm not confident that they will.
Rodgers has been extremely inefficient as a quarterback. He almost exclusively relies on short passes and yards after the catch. The team already has over 1,000 yards after the catch this season.
It's working against inferior teams; it won't hold up against the best teams in the NFL.
Unless this passing attack can be fixed, it feels like this is still the same Steelers team that we have gotten accustomed to. A team that can win but won't make it far in the postseason.
It makes me hesitant to want to see this team take a swing at the trade deadline. I don't believe the Steelers are just a player or two away from competing.
The Pittsburgh Steelers feel like a mirage right now. Despite the success, there is a lot more to prove before you can count this team as a competitor.
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