Is the Steelers’ offense dangerous again?
The Pittsburgh Steelers‘ offense, under Arthur Smith, has shown remarkable improvement.
They are hitting heights not seen since the ‘Killer B’s’ era of 2013-17 when Todd Haley was the offensive coordinator.
The offense is now playing up to the level of their formidable defense, which ranks among the best in the league.
Smith’s offense, built around heavy and condensed formations, makes execution simple for the offense.
At the same time, it presents not only a physical challenge for any defense, but also complicates defensive reads through disguise and motion. It is creating opportunities for big plays off play-action.
A legitimate offensive explosion has been seen in the last two games since Russell Wilson replaced Justin Fields as starting quarterback.
While Fields impressed moving the ball with his legs, Wilson’s experience and decision-making have been pivotal in unlocking the full potential of this playbook.
His ability to execute deep shots off play-action and maintain composure under pressure has been a game changer.
The cerebral side of his game – particularly his quick processing and expert reading of opponent’s defensive looks – has elevated the passing attack to heights not seen in Pittsburgh since ‘Big’ Ben Roethlisberger’s heyday.
Wilson’s debut performance set a franchise record for passing yards in a first game, and the Steelers offense has topped 400 total yards in three of their eight games so far this year.
This is a marked improvement from Matt Canada’s insipid offense scheme, which only hit that mark twice in 2023. That group also failed to rack up more than 380 yards in a game in 2022 or 2021.
Despite facing a challenging second half of the schedule, the Steelers’ 6-2 record puts them top of the AFC North.
As a result, they should be in position to make a playoff run this year.
Hopes are high, but now so are expectations. A winning record is not enough this year.
This team has not won a playoff game since 2017. Tomlin and co. know the fans expect a postseason victory for this campaign to be considered a success.
