Innovation is part of progression. In football, just like in life, when things aren’t working as they should, the only way forward is with maturity, accountability, and an even-keel approach. The Pittsburgh Steelers know this all too well.
Three weeks into the season, tied at the top of the AFC North with a 2-1 record, you might think everything is fine. But if you’ve watched closely, you know it has not been pretty.
The offensive woes that plagued Pittsburgh last season haven’t gone away, even after the franchise invested heavily in what was supposed to be a mini makeover. Pro Bowl-level talent like DK Metcalf, Aaron Rodgers, and Jonnu Smith headline the roster, but the results haven’t matched the hype.
A glance at the stat sheet tells you everything you need to know. Outside of Metcalf and Calvin Austin III, the rest of the Steelers’ receivers have combined for just two catches through two games. That’s not a typo—it’s reality.
According to Warren Sharp, Arthur Smith’s offense has produced 417 fewer yards than their opponents so far this year. That gap speaks louder than any optimistic soundbite could. Numbers don’t lie, and in this case, they scream a painful truth: the Steelers’ offense is broken.
Week 3 against the New England Patriots was a prime example. Pittsburgh managed only 11 yards of offense in the third quarter.
The Pittsburgh Steelers must fix their core offensive issues before it's too late
It’s hard to sugarcoat something like that. Even though Aaron Rodgers currently leads the league in touchdown passes (seven), the offense as a whole remains inefficient, inconsistent, and at times, invisible.
Mike Tomlin has always built his teams on discipline and resilience, but even he knows this brand of football is unsustainable. You can’t rely on Rodgers to pull rabbits out of his hat week after week. You can’t keep leaning on the defense to bail you out of sticky situations—though they’ve done just that more than once already this season.
That’s exactly how last year played out, and if the Steelers want this campaign to feel different, something has to change fast.
READ MORE: Steelers suffering while key playmaker continues to be ignored
The first step?
Fix the run game. Right now, Pittsburgh ranks 31st in the NFL in rushing yards per game at just 63. That kind of output not only limits the offense but makes it painfully predictable. Defenses don’t have to respect the ground attack, which means Rodgers faces more pressure, tighter coverage, and fewer easy throws.
At his age and stage of his career, that’s not the formula for success.
This isn’t to say all is lost. There are bright spots—Metcalf looks like the weapon Pittsburgh thought they were getting, and Austin III has shown flashes of explosiveness. But football is a team game, and two players can’t carry an entire unit. Arthur Smith must dig deeper into his playbook, lean on creativity, and build balance back into the offense.
The Steelers’ defense has done its job, even with its flaws. But if this season is truly going to be different—if Pittsburgh is serious about chasing another Lombardi—the offense can’t keep dragging behind. A complete makeover isn’t optional anymore; it’s a necessity.