The NFL season is officially over and the Eagles are your Super Bowl Champions. While there is no love loss between the Steelers and their interstate rivals, this game made one thing perfectly clear for the team.
The Steelers are in no way ready to compete for a Super Bowl.
That is ok though, as while Philedelphia’s dominance makes Pittsburgh look that weak, this game also should have developed the blueprint for how this team can get back into the big game conversation.
The Eagles didn’t win this game with a dominant passing game. They didn’t go toe to toe with Patrick Mahomes in an all-time classic. Instead, they built up a stifling defense that kept pressure on Mahomes all day and killed their running game. In turn, the Eagles controlled the clock with a steady ground game and occasional big pass play.
If you look closely, this is exactly what the Steelers said their identity was going to be last year. While they looked like the Temu version of the Eagles, that style can still be properly built by Pittsburgh to help get them back into contention status.
What the Steelers can mimic from the Eagles
For the Eagles, it all starts in the trenches. Both their offensive and defensive lines are built through top draft picks and developed into top-tier units. Philadelphia controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides last night, and it showed.
The Steelers, thankfully, have begun to finally invest in their offensive line as of late, including back-to-back first-round picks going to the tackle position as well as numerous interior players being added. While they can hold off on major draft investments there this offseason, another guard could be on the radar earlier than you expect.
The defensive line seems like the target of this draft, which makes sense given the need and depth in this class. Expect an early pick on a lineman and even multiple linemen to end up on this team through the draft.
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The rest of the defense fills out after the line is dominant. The Eagles seem to be at the forefront of what players are important and they invest in them (beyond just the defensive line). Safety and off-ball linebacker help has been acquired through free agency and lower draft picks knowing that they play better when the line holds up.
Meanwhile, we saw the Eagles overhaul their cornerback room this offseason and heavily address it in the draft. That seems to be their recent goal, have one need and attack it heavily every offseason.
While having a capable quarterback is always a huge help, Jalen Hurts isn’t exactly a dynamic passer. He does better with less on him, as he can be freed up to use his athleticism to make big plays on the ground and his arm to stretch defenses.
For a Steelers team still looking for their quarterback, you have to think after watching this game the only choice is Fields. While he hasn’t played nearly to the level Hurts has, he can win on the ground in the same way. The receiver room needs some investment, but realistically you only need two viable options.
Running back is an interesting one. The Eagles invested in Saquon Barkley last year to great effect. That said, he was the cherry on top of this offense, not the original building plan. You may want to add a top back at some point, but that should only be when your other needs are filled.
If the Steelers want to emulate this kind of team, the path seems clear. Bring back Fields and continue to build out the trenches. Add a top receiver if you can and work on the depth at other positions. No, you won’t be Super Bowl-bound next year, but it can get you back into a competitive spot, assuming Fields can live up to some of his potential.
Next year, you can focus on specific positions that need to be filled and address them heavily. The best part is you get to win how this team claims that they want to win. The Steelers are out of excuses, as they now have the perfect example to follow to return to relevance.