Pittsburgh’s gearing up for their AFC North opener against the hated rival Browns, but the biggest news coming out of the Steel City is honestly a bit of a bombshell: quarterback Aaron Rodgers is hanging it up after this season. While the Steelers brass prepares for their division battle, they’re also getting ready to say goodbye to a legend, and his play right now shows clear limitations, even if he is still competent. It’s an early season gut punch, making their 2-1 record feel a lot less impressive.
New Coach, Same Old Problems?
This offseason saw a big coaching change in Pittsburgh, with Mike McCarthy stepping in after Mike Tomlin moved to NBC Sports. McCarthy, who some compare to NBA coach Doc Rivers, has a resume that’s “average at best” despite that one championship. We all remember his messy departure from the Packers, and then he landed with the Cowboys. He had plenty of winning seasons there, but he just couldn’t get them out of the divisional round, even with a talented roster. It’s way too early to tell if this is actually an upgrade from Tomlin, but his new coaching staff is “slightly better” than what Tomlin had last year. Still, with Rodgers on his final tour, it makes you wonder about the long-term vision.
Are We Sure The Steelers Are Actually Good?
Let’s talk about that 2-1 record, because on paper, it looks pretty decent for Week 4. But dig a little deeper, and those wins aren’t exactly blowing anyone away. The Falcons could’ve easily beaten them if Cooper Rush wasn’t starting, and the Bengals only lost because of special teams. The roster “seems the exact same as last year” despite a “couple of new additions,” so the ceiling and floor are pretty much set. It’s really hard to picture this team making any kind of deep playoff run; those limitations are going to catch up to them eventually. They’re not a bad team, but “actually good” feels like a stretch right now.
Defense Might Be The Only Hope
The one unit that might be showing some real spark is the defense. After years of a slow drop-off, a coaching change from defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, who was a liability, to Patrick Graham feels like a definite upgrade. The personnel on paper is largely the same, but the unit “looks different” on the field. T.J. Watt is getting moved around more, Cam Heyward is still defying Father Time, and Derrick Harmon “seems to be making the leap.” The secondary has solid veterans in Jalen Ramsey and Jamel Dean. However, there’s a big question mark around Joey Porter Jr. He hasn’t played this season, though he might suit up on Thursday night. With no new contract deal in place, the Steelers are reportedly “open” to trading him. If they can sort out that situation, this defense really “could be better than what we have seen in recent years.”
So, heading into their AFC North opener, this Pittsburgh team is a puzzle. Are they just an older, struggling squad relying on a shaky record, or is there something real starting to emerge? We’ll find out Thursday night against the Browns, and everyone will be watching to see how this defense performs, especially with the Porter Jr. drama still simmering.
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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