For some NFL teams, putting up 30 points and over 400 yards of offense is just another day in the office. But for the Pittsburgh Steelers, this is practically a twice-per-season phenomenon. With Mike McCarthy here, this rare offensive performance could become the new normal.
In Week 3, the Steelers torched the Cincinnati Bengals, both on the ground and through the air. This was unexpected after coming off a dismal offensive showing against the Patriots in Week 2 that included just three points scored and 235 yards of offense.
And, thankfully, this shouldn't be just a one-off performance.
With a new coaching staff this season, we could have expected that it would take some time to gel and for everything to come together. After getting their hiccups out of the way, McCarthy's offense could be poised to keep this momentum going.
The Pittsburgh Steelers' offense is starting to hit its stride with new head coach Mike McCarthy
Let's be clear: we need to see the Steelers' offense dominate for more than just one game. Let's not count our chickens before they hatch. But the signs are there, and with McCarthy's new direction, this team has the makings of not just an average offense, but an actually good offense.
Let's start with the offensive line. After heavy investments, the Steelers are finally starting to see the fruits of their labor up front. McCarthy's decision to swap out Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook for Brock Hoffman and rookie first-round pick Max Iheanachor already looks genius, as the Steelers are coming off perhaps their best 0-line performance in years.
Then there's the difference in the passing game. Unlike the philosophy under the previous two offensive play-callers, Matt Canada and Arthur Smith, the Steelers are finally looking to exploit the middle of the field with in-breaking routes and slants, while pushing the ball down the field for explosive plays. In Week 3, Rodgers ranked fourth in the NFL with 10.8 average intended air yards, per NextGenStats.
McCarthy's willingness to stretch the field and target each area level in Week 3 took some pressure off the running game. And it works both ways; the rushing attack took pressure off Rodgers and the passing game.
Last year, the Steelers only had one game all season in which they hit 400-plus total yards of offense. However, they only had 29 points in this contest. The last time the Steelers scored at least 30 points and had over 400 yards of offense was Week 13 of the 2024 season, when Russell Wilson was the quarterback.
This was only the fourth time the Steelers have scored at least 30 points and put up at least 400 total yards of offense since Week 10 of the 2018 season, when Ben Roethlisberger was quarterback.
We need to see what the Pittsburgh Steelers look like this week against the Cleveland Browns on the road, but we just caught a glimpse of what Mike McCarthy's offensive potential looks like... and fans should be thrilled.
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