Thirty-four points! Following an offseason where most (understandably) expected the Steelers to be a defense-led team in 2025, Pittsburgh opened the regular season with a 34-32 victory over the Jets in a back-and-forth, high-scoring affair.
It was an explosive start to the season for Pittsburgh. But it’s only one game.
Can the Steelers sustain their offensive success?
The answer could very well be “yes.”
But in its current state, the Steelers offense is the definition of unsustainable.
The offensive line struggled in both the run and pass game throughout
all of Sunday. The 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers took four sacks and several more quarterback hits. And the run game was never established with a paltry 53 team yards on the ground.
While Rodgers and the Steelers’ group of pass catchers deserve plenty of credit for executing against the Jets, they also benefited from a New York defense that looked shockingly unprepared for the Pittsburgh scheme (not taking away from a good game plan from Arthur Smith).
But if the offensive line and run game struggles continue, the Steelers — especially now that teams will have prior tape to review — will become worryingly one-dimensional. Remember what happened last year when teams figured out Pittsburgh couldn’t do much on offense besides short boundary throws and Russell Wilson moon balls?
But if Pittsburgh can grow in its areas of weakness over the course of the season, the team’s Week 1 offensive showing revealed a surprisingly strong passing game foundation. There’s still plenty of room for optimism. And the run game can really only go up from here.
It goes without saying, but the Steelers’ upcoming matchup against the Seattle Seahawks will be a big one for determining their true trajectory the season.
Is the Steelers’ offense sustainable? Join the BTSC community and let us know in the comments!
