Steelers Sit Atop AFC North as McCarthy’s Changes Revive Run Game
Coaching tweaks that repaired blocking and turned Jaylen Warren into a top rusher now test whether Pittsburgh can turn regular-season momentum into playoff success.
Overview
- The Steelers enter a Week 9 bye at 6-2 following a four-game winning streak that included a 27-6 win over the Cleveland Browns and moved them into first place in the AFC North.
- Coach Mike McCarthy has adjusted schemes to fix blocking gaps, a shift credited by former players for reviving the run game and changing the team’s offensive identity.
- Running back Jaylen Warren has emerged as a central playmaker, earning the top PFF rushing grade among qualified backs while Rico Dowdle has supplied complementary production.
- Pittsburgh’s defense has also rebounded, ranking among the NFL’s best in yards and points allowed and leading the league in sacks as veterans praised improved line play.
- Former stars James Harrison and Joe Haden have publicly praised the turnaround but say true evaluation will come in the playoffs, and The Athletic’s simulator boosts Pittsburgh’s playoff odds to about 78% while noting a tougher second half lies ahead.