Steelers Two Biggest Strengths Can Carry Them - Hopefully

At 5-2, things are looking pretty good for the Pittsburgh Steelers. After a 16-10 win over the New Orleans Saints in Paris, France, the team returns to the United States for a showdown against the Cleveland Browns.

As the Steelers try to jump to the top of the AFC North standings and exact revenge against the Browns for an earlier loss, the team is buzzing. The defense is a top-10 unit and the offense has a legitimate candidate for MVP.

Armed with a potent running attack and a stout defense, the Steelers could be set for a run in 2026. But that's only if they can address and correct a few key issues over the coming weeks.

JW30 for MVP - But Is It Enough?

No running back has exploded this season in the NFL like Jaylen Warren. He is currently seventh in the NFL in rushing yards with 561 on 102 carries. He's averaging 5.5 yards per carry, but he's doing most of his damage after contact. As a pass-catcher, he's just as dynamic, with 24 receptions and 294 yards.

There's no doubting that Warren is having an MVP-caliber season. The 27-year-old running back is putting together a career year and he's carrying the Steelers' offense along the way.

This is where things get tricky, however, for two reasons. The first is durability. Warren has proven to be durable over his five seasons in the NFL, but he's been banged up along the way. That's already been the case this season, as he's dealt with shoulder injuries early on.

Finding the right usage is key for Warren. The Steelers may have struck that balance in Week 7. With Rico Dowdle back on the field, they were able to steer some carries his way and keep Warren fresh all game long. If they can continue that one-two punch in the backfield, the run game will continue to fuel this team's success.

The passing game, however, is very much a work in progress. The game plan this year is basically forcing the ball to DK Metcalf. He has 58 targets, 25 more than the next-most targeted player (Jaylen Warren, of course), and the aerial attack continues to be one-dimensional. When Metcalf makes a big play, the pass game seems fine. When that doesn't happen, however, the passing game feels as inept as it did in 2025.

And defenses know that. They are forcing the Steelers to take deep shots on the outside, and it's not resulting in the productive plays the offense hopes for. The dink-and-dunk approach helped the Steelers win a few games so far, but it's not a recipe for long-term success. The Steelers have to improve this area of offense, or else the rest of it will suffer.