The Pittsburgh Steelers flat-out dominated the Cleveland Browns 27-6 on Sunday, snatching sole possession of first place in the AFC North as they head into their bye week. This wasn’t some lucky win, either. The Steelers rushed for a whopping 200 yards while locking down Cleveland to season-lows in both points and rushing yards. Talk about making a statement right before a break!
Warren Unleashed: A Fifth-Year Back on Fire
Forget what you thought you knew about this Steelers offense. This is Jaylen Warren’s team now, and he’s playing like a man possessed. The fifth-year running back exploded for another 157 rushing yards against the Browns in that absolute rout, tying his career high with 143 yards on 17 carries , and get this, it was his 28th birthday! The guy celebrated by tearing up a rival defense. It’s no fluke, either. Warren leads the entire league in rushing EPA with a ridiculous 19.0, he’s third in yards per carry after contact at 4.14, and sits sixth overall in rushing yards with 704. Five of his top nine career rushing games? They’ve all come this season. Ralph Vacchiano from FOX Sports put it perfectly: Warren “has exploded in recent weeks.” It’s a good thing, too, because frankly, the Steelers aren’t getting much from Aaron Rodgers and the passing attack. But when you’ve got a back like Warren, who needs to throw it as much?
Defense Delivers, Rankings Rise
While Warren was busy bulldozing, the Steelers defense was suffocating. They sacked Browns QB Deshaun Watson a stunning eight times! This defense is a monster, making the Browns hit season lows in points and rushing yards. It felt like “big brother shoving little brother back into his place,” as Nick Shook from NFL.com so aptly put it. Winning games like this, with a dominant run game and an even more dominant defense, is exactly what the Steelers are doing. They’re 6-2 going into the bye, sitting pretty at the top of their division. That fast start? It’s all keyed by that ferocious pass rush and an unstoppable run game. The national media is starting to take notice, too. CBS Sports bumped them up five spots to No. 10, Pro Football Talk has them at No. 8, and both The Athletic and NFL.com moved them up to No. 12. FOX Sports and Yahoo! Sports both have them at No. 13, but they were climbing there, too. This might not be a “typical Mike McCarthy team,” but it’s absolutely working.
What’s Next for the Black and Gold?
A 12-win season isn’t out of the question for these guys, according to Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk. The schedule is lining up favorably, and with a 6-2 record, they’re in a prime position. Sure, Yahoo! Sports pointed out they have one of the oldest rosters in the NFL, and while a team like that might usually be a big buyer at the deadline, it doesn’t seem like there’s one single move that would rocket them to “elite” status. Another receiver would be nice, but someone like Josh Downs would probably be redundant with intriguing rookie Germie Bernard’s skill set. Adding Jacksonville’s Brian Thomas Jr. could make sense, though. And after trading away Joey Porter Jr., snagging a cornerback could definitely help. The Steelers are making a strong case for an AFC North crown, and with Jaylen Warren leading the charge and that defense stifling opponents, the rest of the league better pay attention.
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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