The NFL is officially back, and the Steelers are kicking off their 2026 regular season this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, but man, the national media is already throwing some serious shade on this team. Despite returning a ton of talent from last year’s AFC North-winning squad, Pittsburgh is stuck in the middle of the pack in the Week 1 power rankings, with most outlets slotting them in at No. 18 or No. 21. Talk about a wake-up call before the first snap!
McCarthy’s Big Return: Talent Is There, But Doubts Loom
This is it, right? A whole new era of Steelers football begins with Mike McCarthy at the helm for his first season. And get this: he’s back with his old quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, who’s now 42 years old and entering his second season in black and gold. Rodgers is chasing that storybook ending, and the team is loaded with talent, bringing back most of the guys who crushed it last year with a 10-7 record and snagged the AFC North title, even earning a playoff spot.
So, you’d think the national media would be hyped, right? Nope. SB Nation, The Athletic, and Pro Football Talk all slapped the Steelers at No. 18. James Dator and Mark Schofield over at SB Nation are calling them a ‘Tier 4’ team, saying they “have the pieces to make the playoffs, and that’s more or less their ceiling.” They’re talking about a lack of “top-end talent” or “one side of the ball which is highly problematic.” Ouch! Chad Graff and Josh Kendall from The Athletic are scratching their heads, too. They’re like, “The Steelers haven’t had a losing season since 2003, so maybe it’s unwise to predict only eight wins.” But here’s the kicker: they boast the league’s highest-paid defense. So what’s the problem?
42-Year-Old Rodgers and the HUGE Offensive Unknowns
That “one side of the ball” that’s “highly problematic”? Yeah, you guessed it, everyone’s looking at the offense. The Athletic straight up asks “how good the offense can be with 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers reuniting with Mike McCarthy.” It’s the elephant in the room! NFL.com, USA Today, and ESPN all put the Steelers even lower, at No. 21. Nick Shook at NFL.com is super interested in “how this offense operates under the direction of new head coach Mike McCarthy.” He’s got hope, though, thinking the “new-look receiving corps could produce some highlights to start the season and alter expectations quickly.” Fingers crossed!
But Nate Davis from USA Today is not pulling any punches, saying this squad is “facing so many questions in 2027, particularly on the offensive side.” He even questioned whether they “should think long and hard before dumping more money into this defense” given the offensive woes. Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk warns they “need to get off to a fast start; there are plenty of tough games after the Week 9 bye.” Man, the pressure is on!
ESPN’s Brooke Pryor laid out what a successful season looks like: “the Steelers win a playoff game in coach Mike McCarthy’s first season.” That’s it! Not a Super Bowl, not even an AFC Championship. Just *one* playoff win. It highlights how long it’s been, “the team’s first playoff game in a decade.” That’s a long time for a franchise that talks Lombardi Trophies every single year.
So, what’s next? The Steelers kick off against the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday afternoon at Acrisure Stadium. This isn’t just Week 1, it’s the moment to start shutting up the national media. Can this new offense with a 42-year-old Rodgers and McCarthy finally click and show some of those “highlights” Nick Shook is talking about? Or are we in for a long season of offensive struggles? We’ll find out quick. Let’s go, Steelers! Time to make some noise!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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