The Pittsburgh Steelers faced a major problem as they prepared to take on the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC North title. Their offense was completely lost in Week 17 against the Browns, largely due to the lack of receiver talent with DK Metcalf suspended.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers had no answers in the passing game, and they weren't able to lean on the running game to create offense.
In a do-or-die game, they had no choice but to lean on the one position that hasn't let them down this year. Running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell have been a dynamic duo all season, and they showed up in the most important moment of the year in Pittsburgh's 26-24 victory.
Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell powered the Pittsburgh Steelers to an AFC North title over Ravens
Warren and Gainwell have been fantastic all season, coming into this week with over 2,000 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns between them. Gainwell was even voted team MVP this week, further illustrating just how important he has been to the offense.
Against the Ravens, they took it up a notch. Warren totaled 19 touches for 99 yards, but they were some of the hardest-earned yards you will ever see. He ran with a determination few NFL backs are capable of, and he carried Pittsburgh down the field on multiple occasions. His ability to break tackles and make defenders miss turned poor plays into positive gains on a routine basis.
Not to be outdone, Gainwell led the team with eight receptions for 64 yards, and he scored on a key third-down run that put the Steelers in front late. He managed just 10 yards on his five rushing attempts, but he more than made up for it with his day through the air.
The Steelers were certainly lucky to win this game, as the Ravens could have one on a last-second field goal if it weren't for a terrible miss by rookie kicker Tyler Loop. But that doesn't take anything away from how impressive a day Warren and Gainwell had.
With DK Metcalf set to return next week as Pittsburgh welcomes the Houston Texans on Wildcard weekend, the Steelers should still lean on their backs to be the engine of the offense. Houston's defense is as tough as it gets, and they have the talent in the secondary to shut down Metcalf.
For now, though, Steelers fans should just enjoy a huge win thanks to their dynamic backfield.