The Pittsburgh Steelers enter their bye week with an impressive 3-1 record and just put up their most complete game of the season against the Vikings in an international game. Despite the cards being stacked against them with numerous injuries, this team played well enough to garner some national praise.
Fans are in a bit of a frenzy, to say the least.
After the disaster that was their week two loss to the Seahawks, things didn’t look much better against the Patriots. Despite winning, it felt like Pittsburgh was doing everything in its power to lose that game.
Minnesota was a different beast. While still a close game, this felt like a team that they dominated. Even with numerous starters out/injured mid-game and the typical struggles of playing overseas, Pittsburgh delivered its best game of the season.
With the bye week here to get some needed rest, we are left wondering if this is truly a new look Steelers team or just a cruel mirage of mediocrity.
The Pittsburgh Steelers may not truly be over the hump entering the bye week
On paper, there is a lot to like about the Steelers at this point in the season. The defense came alive the last two weeks, shutting down the Vikings effectively while forcing a myriad of turnovers over the past two weeks.
The offense, while not perfect, has finally found some success on the ground and has been a stable element overall. Both sides can use the bye week to get healthier, which should only improve things.
The rest of the AFC North looks bad. The Browns and Bengals are lost causes right now. The Ravens have struggled and will be without their starting quarterback for at least a game. The Steelers could be firmly in the driver's seat coming out of the bye.
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However, one has to wonder if this Steelers team is really ready to compete. The passing game is the definition of dink and dunk, avoiding deep passes in favor of yards after the catch. On one hand, that has been refreshing, but if properly countered, this passing game will falter.
The running game looked great with Jaylen Warren, the Steelers' best back, in Dublin, but we need to see some consistency there. In short, this offense hasn’t proven anything quite yet.
The defense appears to be gelling after struggling early in the year. However, I’m not yet sold that this group is ready to achieve the heights set out before them this offseason. The Vikings still found a way to move the ball, as did the Patriots. The turnovers were the key here, but those aren’t sustainable.
Can the Steelers continue to do well past the bye week? Absolutely, but we aren’t there yet. Simply put, the reigns are in Pittsburgh’s hands, and they need to show that they have truly turned the corner.