After seven games of mixed performances, the Steelers rank near the bottom of the league in most significant offensive categories, and their once-larcenous defense has had problems taking the ball away.
And yet, after a 1-3 start in which they lost back-to-back games at home for the first time since 2003, the Steelers somehow find themselves a game out of first place in the AFC North and with just one fewer loss than any of the top teams in the conference.
That was the significance of their 15-10 victory Sunday in Cleveland, a win that moved them to 4-3 and put them in position to add to their record with upcoming home games against the Chicago Bears (3-5) and Detroit Lions (0-8) — teams who have combined to lose their past 11 games.
"I'm not going to say we have the clear answer that we figured it out, but we came on the road and won a football games against a good team," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "I think hopefully that instills confidence in guys — younger guys and older guys — letting us know we can do this thing."
That the Steelers have put themselves in this position belies the fact their offense has not been very proficient. They rank 28th in the league in passing, 29th in scoring and 30th in rushing. Like Sunday, though, when they put together back-to-back touchdown drives in the second half, they have done just enough during their three-game win streak to be impactful.
The defense has slowly improved despite the absence of linemen Stephon Tuitt, Tyson Alualu and Carlos Davis to injuries. The Steelers rank fifth in yards allowed (345.7), eighth against the pass (239.7) and 12th against the run (106). But, after leading the league in interceptions last season, they have just two in seven games (only one team has fewer). What's more, they rank 28th in the league with six takeaways after leading the league in that category in 2019.
But it was their defense that rose up against the Browns, holding the No. 1 rushing team in the league to 96 yards on 23 attempts, 74 yards below their league-leading average.
"It's all mental," said linebacker T.J. Watt, who ranks second in the league with 8 1/2 sacks. "It's just showing that when our backs are against the wall, we know that wins aren't always going to be pretty. We just have to keep stacking these chips."
Those chips will come in handy later because the Steelers play only one team with a losing record (Minnesota) after their Nov. 14 game against the Lions. Five of their final eight games are on the road, including at Cincinnati and Baltimore.
"We can't worry or control what is going on out there," Roethlisberger said. "We dug ourselves enough of a hole that we have to find a way to get out of it. We can't worry about anything but us and what we can control, and that is trying to win football games. One step at a time."
Rush to judgment?
The Steelers rushed 32 times for 115 yards against the Browns, the third game in a row they have had at least 30 rushing attempts. It is only the sixth time in Mike Tomlin's tenure they have had 30 or more carries in three consecutive games.
However, before anyone thinks is the new identity of the offense, the Steelers have had at least 30 carries in three consecutive games in each of the previous two seasons. And that's when their running game ranked at or near the bottom of the league.
In 2020, they had 38, 32 and 37 rushing attempts in Weeks 3-5 and totaled 434 yards (4.05 average). In 2019, they had 38, 32 and 35 carries in Weeks 12-14 for a three-game total of 423 yards (4.03). In the past three games, they have rushed for 381 yards, an average of 3.92 yards per carry. Not surprisingly, the Steelers are 9-0 in each of those games since 2019.
"We are just trying to keep stacking bricks," said rookie Najee Harris, who is third in carries (128) and seventh in rushing yards (479) in the AFC. "We are going to run the ball, pass and RPOs. We are just trying to find our identity and what we do."
Air Harris
Speaking of Harris, his 8-yard touchdown run against the Browns was somewhat reminiscent of Michael Jordan's foul-line takeoff to win the NBA's 1988 dunk contest.
Harris' aerial display came in the third quarter when he went airborne from the 4-yard line and landed 2 yards deep into the end zone to cut the lead to 10-9.
Harris was asked if he had ever dived into the end zone from that far out before.
"Yes, back in high school and college," he said. "Not in the NFL."
Roethlisberger would prefer Harris keep his 6-foot-1, 232-pound body on the ground, where he can run over and through defenders. But even he admitted he was impressed.
"I hate when Najee jumps," Roethlisberger said. "I tell him all the time, 'Stop jumping.' But that was a pretty good play. If he can score on it, we will take it."
New look at TE?
If the Steelers wanted to see how their offense might look if they make a move with tight end Eric Ebron before Tuesday's 4 p.m. trade deadline, they got a good preview from the combination of Pat Freiermuth and Zach Gentry.
Freiermuth had four catches for 44 yards against the Browns, including the winning 2-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone. But it was equally encouraging for their purposes that Gentry had three catches for 39 yards, including a 24-yarder on the go-ahead touchdown drive.
"I had a couple catches in the middle of the field and Zach had a big third-down conversion over the middle of the field," Freiermuth said. "When you find the middle of the field and utilize it in our offense, that moves. I am really happy with the play Zach made there."
If the Steelers were looking for a similar sample size from edge rusher Taco Charlton, there was little from which to glean. Charlton was activated to the 53-man roster to replace Melvin Ingram, who did not play because of a groin injury. National reports have indicated Ingram, whose production and playing time have diminished, has asked to be traded.
Charlton, a former No. 1 draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys, played 10 snaps against the Browns and did not register a stat.
