I can’t remember a time in my life when the Pittsburgh Steelers had as dominant a run game as they do right now.
Jaylen Warren had another monster performance in Pittsburgh’s 27-6 win over the Cleveland Browns, rushing for a career-high 143 yards and a touchdown on over eight yards per carry. Rico Dowdle added 56 yards and a touchdown in his best game as a Steeler thus far. A Pat Freiermuth one-yard tush push touchdown gave the Steelers an even 200 yards against the Browns, and when you look at how
the Steelers have performed over the course of their win streak, it’s safe to say they comfortably have the NFL’s top rushing attack.
Despite a slow start in the first two games of the season, the Steelers currently rank third in EPA per rush behind only the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, and they are ninth in rush success rate over the course of the season. However, if you look at those numbers since Week 3 – or after Pittsburgh’s pair of poor performances offensively when the season began – they lead the NFL in EPA per rush and yards per carry. And not only are they efficient in the run game, but they are the NFL’s most explosive run game.
Since Week 3, the Steelers led the NFL in yards after contact per rush attempt. Jaylen Warren leads all running backs in yards after contact per attempt at 4.24 (min. 50 touches) and he has the fifth-most 10+ yard runs since Week 3 when the Steelers made their offensive line changes on the right side. Maybe the most telling stat, though, is this one from Derrick Bell of Steelers Now. Since Week 3, the Steelers are lapping the NFL in rushing EPA per play. The difference between the Steelers and the second-place Falcons is the same distance as the margin from Atlanta to the 19th-best team.
The Steelers have mastered the art of being explosive in the run game, which certainly does a lot to take the pressure off the shoulders of a soon-to-be 43 year-old quarterback whose receivers are still lacking in terms of explosive play ability. Should the Steelers be able to lean on this run game into January, they can beat anybody.
It’s the morning after game day, and the Steelers are a half game out of the top seed in the AFC.
Welcome back, T.J. Watt
The last two seasons have been down ones for T.J. Watt. After leading the NFL in sacks for a record third time in 2023, Watt combined for just 18.5 sacks over the last two seasons, including just seven in 2025. If there is one person who has greatly benefitted from the Patrick Graham defense, though, it’s been No. 90.
Watt put up two sacks on Deshaun Watson on Sunday, taking his season total to 7.5, which tops his season total from a year ago just eight weeks into the season and puts him at the top of the NFL in sacks – a place he hasn’t been in quite a long time at this point in the season. Among all players to play 100 pass rush snaps, he is fourth in pressure percentage, and his pressure to sack ratio is also fourth in the league.
And it’s not just sacks that Watt is getting. He’s second in the NFL among edge rushers in tackles for loss (9), and his six stuffed runs are third among edge rushers.
Watt has successfully turned back the clock. And at age 32, he’s playing like he’s in his prime.
Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson continue their excellent run
After a very up-and-down first month of the season for the Steeler’s linebacking corps, Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson have been on a tear during Pittsburgh’s winning streak. Over the course of the Steelers’ four-game win streak, Wilson and Queen are sixth and ninth in the league in tackles, respectively. Wilson’s three tackles for loss in that span are tied for second in the NFL, while Queen is right behind him with two. The duo are also both in the top five in stuffed runs over the last moth, with Queen totaling five and Wilson putting up four. Finally, their impact plays are third in the league with 12 apiece, and no other duo in the NFL matches their 24 combined impact plays since Week 5.
Considering how much flack these two have gotten over the last year, seeing them rise to the occasion and become arguably the top linebacking duo in the NFL right now is such a breath of fresh air for a defense that, as a whole, has been dominant.
Quick hitters
- Since Week 5, the Steelers are third in defensive success rate, trailing only the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos. A true elite unit.
- Rico Dowdle had his best game as a Steelers. Pittsburgh’s backfield duo has become very dangerous.
- DK Metcalf: one catch, four yards. Pittsburgh should take a big swing ahead of the trade deadline for a difference-maker at receiver.
- Alex Highsmith was tremendous. Only recored 0.5 sacks, but had five pressures. Really good day from No. 56.
- Eight sacks is insane. The Steelers now lead the NFL with 26.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
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