Pittsburgh just beat the Bengals 30-27, and they’re favored tonight against the Browns by 2.5 points. Sounds like a good week, right? You’d think Steelers fans would be pumped. But get this: a recent SB Nation survey dropped, and only SEVEN PERCENT of fans actually have faith in where the team is headed. Seven percent! After a win! That number hits way harder than any injury report.
A Trade That Stings (And Doesn’t Exactly Help the Defense)
It’s tough to get excited when the front office makes moves that feel like they’re giving up on the present and mortgaging the future. Pittsburgh traded star corner Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys late Wednesday night. What did they get back? A 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick. That’s a long way off, especially for a guy like Porter Jr. The secondary was already hurting, missing DeShon Elliott, and dealing with Jalen Ramsey’s broken wrist. Now, with Porter Jr. officially off the team, those question marks are just getting bigger. How do you replace that kind of talent with a roster that’s apparently similar to last year’s? General Manager Omar Khan hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire with success, and moves like this just make fans scratch their heads.
Offense Stuck in Neutral, Still No QB in Sight
Then you look at the offense. Led by Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers, it’s just not getting it done. They rank 17th in total offense, churning out just 329 yards per game. Scoring is even worse, sitting at 26th in the league, averaging a measly 17.7 points per game. And third downs? Forget about it. They’re a bottom-five offense, converting only 32.4% of the time. The biggest long-term question of all still looms large: they don’t have an identified franchise quarterback waiting in the wings, unless Drew Allar can miraculously take that next step. This kind of offensive ineptitude, combined with a defense that just lost a key piece, really explains why that nine-year playoff win drought feels like it’s never ending.
Tonight’s game against the Browns is huge; a win means Pittsburgh grabs sole possession of first place in the AFC North with a 3-1 record heading into the weekend. But seriously, will that change that brutal 7% confidence rating? The long-term issues on the offensive line, the quarterback situation, and now a hobbled secondary, are still glaring. It feels like they’re just kicking the can down the road.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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