When the Pittsburgh Steelers once again failed to win during last year’s postseason, many national analysts wrote off their veteran-laden core as an aging group running on empty. Seven weeks into the current campaign, that narrative has been completely shattered.
The Steelers have revitalized their identity around a balanced, explosive formula led by a punishing backfield tandem and a dominant, healthy defense. As host Rich Eisen emphatically noted on “The Rich Eisen Show,” Pittsburgh looks vastly different from the team many left for dead.
"I honestly watched Rodgers walk off the field in that playoff loss to the Texans, thinking that's it for him, and this team's run out of gas. There's a ton of gas in this tank, guys. There really, really is."
A major catalyst behind this surge is the lethal running back pairing of Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, providing the physical ground attack required to close out tight games in the brutal AFC North.
"And running with Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle is a hell of a one-two punch. Him running for that first down to win the game on third-and-8 and he comes up with eight yards plus, right? An eight-yard run on third and whatever. He runs for a first down to essentially wrap the game up against the Saints."
Complementing this offensive power, Pittsburgh’s defense continues to execute at an elite level, anchored by sustained health and game-changing playmaking. Combined with Aaron Rodgers’ pre-snap mastery under head coach Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh possesses all the ingredients for a deep postseason run.
"The Steelers can win this division. Absolutely. And then go into the playoffs and make some hay with a run game like this and a passing game that Rodgers is in control of and a and a defense that's balling out, right? I don’t think I told any tales out of school."
If the Steelers continue to marry this relentless operational flow with Aaron Rodgers' veteran command, they won't just be playoff participants; they will be a formidable threat no postseason contender wants to face.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Why the Steelers are legitimate contenders to steal the AFC North
