Entering Week 3, all of the talk surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers is how their pitiful defense can turn things around and get back on track against the New England Patriots. But there's another storyline that seems to be going unnoticed.
When the Steelers' offense takes the field at Gillette Stadium, Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will get a chance to embarrass his old head coach.
Smith has been an NFL coach since 2007, when he earned a job as a defensive quality assistant with Washington. In 2011, Smith joined the Titans, and over the next 10 years, he would remain with Tennessee—working his way up the ladder from quality control to assistant tight ends coach, to tight ends coach, to offensive coordinator.
However, before Smith was considered for a head coaching position—which he eventually landed with the Atlanta Falcons—the Titans hired Mike Vrabel as their head coach in 2018, with Smith working under him.
Smith was Vrabel's offensive coordinator in 2019 in 2020. As Vrabel brought aggressiveness to the defense, Smith aided quarterback Ryan Tannehill, A.J. Brown, and Derrick Henry to what was, at the time, the best performances of their NFL careers.
Five years later, in Week 3 of the 2025 season, Smith's offense is set to go toe-to-toe with a Vrabel-led defense. And it could be the Steelers' OC getting the last laugh.
Arthur Smith could aid the Pittsburgh Steelers' offense to a big showing over former head coach Mike Vrabel
Mike Vrabel and the New England Patriots are coming off a shootout road win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 2. While the Patriots had an impressive showing that included 33 points (including a kick return touchdown) and 10 passing yards per attempt from second-year quarterback Drake Maye, the defense showed its weakness.
Now Arthur Smith could be set to exploit it.
Vrabel's team held De'Von Achane and the Dolphins' rushing attack in check in Week 2, as they mustered up just 61 yards on 15 carries. However, the Patriots were shredded through the air with their quick passing game and with yards after the catch.
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill took advantage of an aggressive defense, turning quick slants into huge plays with the ball in his hands. Meanwhile, Achane had 92 receiving yards out of the backfield, including a score reception that went for a score.
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Through the first two games of the season, Vrabel's defense somehow managed to allow 285 yards after the catch, per advanced defensive stats from Pro Football Reference. This is the third-worst mark in the NFL behind only the Cincinnati Bengals and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
You can bet Smith is aware of this, and he should already be making plans to get DK Metcalf on drag routes and quick slants to allow him to use his speed after the catch. Likewise, Jaylen Warren is one of the better receiving backs in the NFL, and he's coming off a performance that included a 65-yard catch and run. He needs to be utilized often in the passing game.
If the Miami Dolphins found a way to gash the New England Patriots for 315 passing yards on 9.8 yards per attempt, Arthur Smith should be able to do something similar with Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers when they take the field.