On Monday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers took an important step toward avoiding being a major shakedown within the AFC during the second half of the 2024 season.
By earning a 26-18 victory over the visiting New York Giants, the Steelers were able to move to 6-2 heading into their nine-week break. Pittsburgh also increased its dominance over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North standings (although Baltimore remains the betting favorite to win the section on DraftKings).
When we started evaluating their schedule in the spring, it was clear that the Steelers had to take advantage of their pre-bye schedule if they were moving toward a shot at being a playoff team. The Steelers accomplished that, and based on how they looked over the two weeks, they also accomplished something much bigger in the brilliant piece scheme.
The Steelers have a team capable of creating a deep playoff run, something that hasn’t happened in Pittsburgh since 2016.
Pittsburgh looked good starting Justin Gardens at quarterback through the first six games of the season. But Steelers manager Mike Tomlin has built his appeal on more than just being a good team, which is why he inserted Russell Wilson into the starting lineup in While 7. That possibility has already paid off, as the Pittsburgh’s offense hasn’t come along that recently. just in just a decade.
The Steelers’ offense is balanced. On Monday night, Najee Harris rushed for over 100 yards for the third consecutive tournament. He’s working behind a vastly improved offensive sequence that over the past few weeks has integrated veteran shortstop and former undrafted rookie Ryan McCollum into rookie starter Zach Frazier’s backfield.
Harris’ work has been complemented by Wilson and his talent for securing deep passes. On Monday night, his completions to Van Jefferson (36 yards), George Pickens (43 yards) and Calvin Austin III (29 yards for a touchdown) helped Pittsburgh score 17 points in the second half and then were held to nine points in the first half. . Speaking of Austin, the third-year veteran also scored on a 73-yard punt return as the Steelers continue to put together stellar special teams games.
Defensively, the Steelers struggled from time to time against Daniel Jones and the Giants offense. However, unity made key works when it matters the most. The Giants’ last two drives ended with a sack by TJ Watt and a 1/3 interception by cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. over the next two weeks.
The Steelers are not the best possible. The secondary sometimes provides plays (Jones completed several big passes downfield Monday night). Wilson doesn’t have Gardens’ mobility and is yet to get off to a solid start. These are just some of the issues the Steelers will look to fix during his free life.
A negative period is most likely, although not in today’s NFL with the salary cap and sovereign agency. The Steelers aren’t the best, but they’ve proven to be a well-rounded team in all three stages, a team that consistently doesn’t outdo themselves, and a team that has a knack for making game-deciding plays.
But most importantly, the Steelers seem to have internal confidence that they can do something special. That confidence has ended in a 6-2 start, and should lead to much more luck. I’m sick on the street.
