Top 10s have long been the standard of excellence when it comes to rankings, and in the 32-team NFL, it’s a signifier of being in the top third of the league — not unachievable or elite, but above average in a game where even the smallest of margins can make a massive difference.
So, with the Steelers’ regular season debut rapidly approaching this Sunday and predictions season starting to give way to actual football, let’s take a look at where Pittsburgh could rank among NFL teams in the four main
yardage metrics: passing, running, pass defense, and run defense. They’re listed below based on how likely they are to land in the top 10 this season, from most to least.
Pittsburgh didn’t finish as a top-10 team in any of these metrics in 2025. Could things change under a new coaching staff this year?
1. Run defense
2025 finish: 13th in NFL; 113.1 rushing yards allowed per game
Why the Steelers will finish in the top 10: This is a deep defensive line that features the ageless Cam Heyward and a bevy of run stuffers including Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black, Sebastian Joseph-Day and even impressive rookie Gabriel Rubio. Pittsburgh’s edge rusher room is better defending the run than many realize as well. The strong front should open things up for an athletic inside linebacker room that could finally live up to its potential in Patrick Graham’s aggressive scheme. And for the most part, the Steelers’ secondary isn’t afraid to tackle, with names such as DeShon Elliott, Jaquan Brisker and Jalen Ramsey all being known for laying out big hits in the box.
Why they won’t: The range of the Steelers’ inside linebacker room is not a question, but communication and block-shedding issues have been a common theme of past seasons for Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson. Top backup Cole Holcomb still doesn’t look like the player he was pre-injury, either. The defensive line also isn’t without its question marks. Heyward still looked elite last year but is now firmly in his late 30s. And a lot of the optimism surrounding the group’s depth is banking on some sort of second-year leap from Harmon and Black, which isn’t a guarantee.
2. Pass defense
2025 finish: 29th in NFL. 243.9 passing yards allowed per game.
Why the Steelers will finish in the top 10: Pittsburgh boasts one of the deepest cornerback rooms in the NFL with an excellent projected starting trio in Joey Porter Jr., Jalen Ramsey and Jamel Dean (Killer J’s, anyone?). Don’t forget Jaquan Brisker, either, a versatile safety who should be a big improvement over the list of veterans the team cycled through last year. Pair that revamped secondary with a modern Patrick Graham scheme and star-studded pass rush, and the Steelers’ passing defense has the pieces to take a big leap from its disappointing 2025.
Why they won’t: Porter has barely practiced all summer and has hinted at a contract holdout. Ramsey will turn 32 this season. The starting secondary as a whole hasn’t been the most available this summer and could still be gelling come Week 1. The safety depth chart could once again sink the defense, with a lack of range across the board and DeShon Elliott starting the season on injured reserve. There are a surprising number of factors that could go wrong.
3. Running offense
2025 finish: 26th in NFL; 103.3 rushing yards per game
Why the Steelers will finish in the top 10: Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle are both 1,000-yard season-capable runners who give the Steelers one of the most underrated one-two punches in the NFL. The Zach Frazier/Mason McCormick duo should also be a powerhouse in the run game, and new head coach Mike McCarthy’s more varied run scheme should give the team a more diverse ground attack that might better cater to some players’ strengths. Keep in mind that tight end Darnell Washington might be the best run blocker at his position in the NFL, as well.
Why they won’t: Warren and Dowdle are good but not superstars, and if the offensive line fails to generate enough push up front like what happened in the preseason, the team’s running backs might not be able to create much yardage. Remember that the Steelers often needed to switch to a jumbo package or heavily use Washington last year to successfully run the ball, and the team will likely be using more 11 personnel in 2026. The right side of the Pittsburgh O-line doesn’t have a ton of power, and the group as a whole was built for Arthur Smith’s zone scheme, not a McCarthy system that uses more gap/power concepts.
4. Passing offense
2025: 22nd in NFL; 202.4 passing yards per game
Why the Steelers will finish in the top 10: Aaron Rodgers’ arm is still remarkably strong even at age 42, and the Steelers revamped the team’s wide receiver room entering 2026 with the additions of veteran possession receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and rookie Germie Bernard. Despite a down 2025, WR1 DK Metcalf is still an explosive player and should see a boost in a modernized passing game under McCarthy. The same could be said of tight end Pat Freiermuth, who has been underused in past seasons but could finally break out under the coach who jumpstarted the careers of Jake Ferguson and Dalton Schultz. Don’t underrate Warren’s ability as a check-down target, either.
Why they won’t: Rodgers had a historically fast time to throw last season, which shouldn’t change much in 2026 considering the team is still catering to his preferences, the offensive line remains a work in progress, and Rodgers is still in his 40s and not going to be running around extending plays like he used to. That quick passing game could lead to a strong completion percentage, but it also doesn’t do much to create big plays. And beyond Metcalf, the passing game is severely lacking in more options to gain chunk yardage.
Do you think the Steelers will rank in the top 10 in any of the above categories in 2026? What other metrics could Pittsburgh rank especially high or low in? Join the BTSC community and let us know in the comments.
