All offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers talked about their defense having the chance to be historically special. While it may have taken a few weeks for them to find their footing, we caught a glimpse of what the peak of this unit could look like.
Pittsburgh didn’t allow the Browns to reach the end zone in their 23-9 win over Cleveland. Dillon Gabriel threw the ball 52 times, and the Steelers yielded just 221 yards through the air – good for just 4.3 yards per attempt. On top of that, Pittsburgh’s
pass rush got to Gabriel for six sacks, including two apiece from Nick Herbig and Jalen Ramsey. The Browns totaled just 248 yards of offense, averaged less than four yards per carry, and were a grusome 6-of-17 on third down.
Additionally, T.J. Watt was fantastic. He added half a sack to get him to 3.5 on the season. Watt has now contributed on at least one sack in each of the Steelers’ last three games. Additionally, he disrupted a pass from Gabriel by chasing him from behind and hitting his arm as he threw, and made it through two chips and a block to bat down a pass at the line of scrimmage. Herbig also continues to be incredible and is now up to 4.5 sacks in four games. Patrick Queen continues to look like an All-Pro, as well, as he had nine tackles, a batted pass that saved a touchdown, and nearly got under a tipped pass for an interception. This was by far the most complete defensive performance the Steelers have had in 2025, and if they look anything like this on Thursday night, they’ll come away the victor there, as well.
Offensively, Pittsburgh wasted no time being the aggressors. They ran a play-action pass to Darnell Washington on the first play for a 36-yard gain that led to a Chris Boswell field goal. The big tight end had three catches on the day for 62 yards and continues to become more of a focal point in the passing game.
The offensive line kept Aaron Rodgers clean and didn’t allow a sack. We discussed how great the Steelers’ pass rush was, well Myles Garrett once again was a non-factor in Pittsburgh. He had two tackles, none of which were for loss. It’s a credit to Pittsburgh’s front five, as well as additional help from Spencer Anderson, for keeping Rodgers upright. Pittsburgh also had 100 yards on the ground, with Jaylen Warren leading the way with 52 yards on 11 carries.
In terms of Rodgers, he continues to be incredibly efficient. He went 21-of-30 for 235 yards and two touchdowns. He now has 10 touchdowns to three interceptions on the year, putting him on pace for a TD-INT ratio of 34-10. The first was to Connor Heyward to give the Steelers a 16-3 lead. The second was to DK Metcalf to put a bow on the game, making it 23-6. Metcalf hit Tyson Campbell with a double move, and Rodgers put it right in the bread basket in the end zone.
The score gives Metcalf touchdown catches in four straight games, which ties his career high. The star receiver ended the game with 95 yards on four catches. It’s been quality over quantity when it comes to catches for Metcalf. He has 19 receptions through five games, but four have gone for scores. Nearly 20 percent of his receptions have ended in six points, and he’s averaging just under 19 yards per catch. Big plays and touchdowns are Metcalf’s M.O., and that’s exactly why they went out and got him.
Everyone from Mike Tomlin on down deserves a lot of praise for the win. They didn’t play with their food. They faced an inferior opponent, played aggressive, and won decisively. If they can repeat that on Thursday, a day in which they have struggled over the last five years, they will walk away 5-1.
