*** 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers: 4-1 and facing the Bengals on a short week (38 Viewers)

[5-ish Finkle]

The team just looks and feels different with Rodgers. He takes command like we haven’t seen in Pittsburgh for years.

He is still hyper accurate, and that matters a ton. We haven't seen it to this level since, like, 2017. He's also still excellent at unloading fast, without sacrificing the accuracy. Rudolph can't do any of those things as well as Rodgers can (and won't be given the green light to make checks at the line, most likely).

Example: Rudolph ain't hitting that perfect crosser to DK that he housed 80 yards later. He might at least deliver the ball to a catchable area on a given rep, but he just isn't going to lead the guy perfectly so they can make silly YAC stuff happen the way Rodgers can pretty much every rep.

So far Rodgers has looked a lot better than I would have ever expected, even behind this cobbled together OL.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Perhaps I was wrong after week 2. Maybe Derrick Harmon WAS the missing piece for their run defense to start performing at an acceptable level?

In the two games since he's been given "full time" reps:

70 yards rushing surrendered @3.8 YPA/no rush TDs vs. Cleveland
65 yard rushing surrendered @3.5 YPA/no rush TDs vs. Vikings

Prior they had given up over 100 rushing each game @4.0 YPA minimum/4 total rushing TDs

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Also...

Herbie

That PA out of 13 personnel to Washington was

 

[H8fulHuck]

Impressed with the Steelers game plan to neutralize Garrett. Play after play saw a TE lined up on his side and make a strong effort to block before running a route. They weren’t giving a token chip. Only saw it live without TV commentary but looked like they executed the plan well.

D Penalties were the kryptonite. Tried to give the browns chances but only gave up a few FG. Rookie QB was feeling the pressure and Judkins was contained nicely

Great day to take in a game

 

[Joe Bryant]

Impressed with the Steelers game plan to neutralize Garrett. Play after play saw a TE lined up on his side and make a strong effort to block before running a route. They weren’t giving a token chip. Only saw it live without TV commentary but looked like they executed the plan well.

D Penalties were the kryptonite. Tried to give the browns chances but only gave up a few FG. Rookie QB was feeling the pressure and Judkins was contained nicely

Great day to take in a game

I thought the same with Garrett and a not very mobile these days Rodgers. Excellent scheming and execution.

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

Impressed with the Steelers game plan to neutralize Garrett. Play after play saw a TE lined up on his side and make a strong effort to block before running a route. They weren’t giving a token chip. Only saw it live without TV commentary but looked like they executed the plan well.

D Penalties were the kryptonite. Tried to give the browns chances but only gave up a few FG. Rookie QB was feeling the pressure and Judkins was contained nicely

Great day to take in a game

Dan Moore is wondering why it took so long

 

[timschochet]

Steelers appear to have a pretty good running game. Not for fantasy as it’s a three headed monster. But it’s getting better and better.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Rank the AFC North Quarterbacks after Week 6

1. Aaron Rodgers
2. Joe Flacco
3. Dillon Gabriel
4. Cooper Rush

 

[FarFromHome]

Rank the AFC North Quarterbacks after Week 6

1. Aaron Rodgers
2. Joe Flacco
3. Dillon Gabriel
4. Cooper Rush

Man. When you group it like that it's arguably the worst group of division QBs of all time. Ha ha

 

[karl.Racki]

Schefter is reporting Steelers are trying to get another WR... AJ Brown, Calvin Ridley, Jakobi Meyer, and Chris Olave are being mentioned. Of course Brown would take a bigger package, but Steelers have a boat load of picks. I would think Highsmith and Freiermuth are two contracts Steelers would like to dump. Brown would be great, plus he can reunite with his Ole Miss buddy.

 

[Godsbrother]

Schefter is reporting Steelers are trying to get another WR... AJ Brown, Calvin Ridley, Jakobi Meyer, and Chris Olave are being mentioned. Of course Brown would take a bigger package, but Steelers have a boat load of picks. I would think Highsmith and Freiermuth are two contracts Steelers would like to dump. Brown would be great, plus he can reunite with his Ole Miss buddy.

I wouldn’t hate a trade for a WR. Love Freirmuth but he is definitely expendable on this team.

I’m not opposed to dealing Highsmith but I love the depth we currently have.

 

[karl.Racki]

Schefter is reporting Steelers are trying to get another WR... AJ Brown, Calvin Ridley, Jakobi Meyer, and Chris Olave are being mentioned. Of course Brown would take a bigger package, but Steelers have a boat load of picks. I would think Highsmith and Freiermuth are two contracts Steelers would like to dump. Brown would be great, plus he can reunite with his Ole Miss buddy.

I wouldn’t hate a trade for a WR. Love Freirmuth but he is definitely expendable on this team.

I’m not opposed to dealing Highsmith but I love the depth we currently have.

If we can move some depth for a piece like a WR, I think it be great.. Our WR core is bad outside DK.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Schefter is reporting Steelers are trying to get another WR... AJ Brown, Calvin Ridley, Jakobi Meyer, and Chris Olave are being mentioned. Of course Brown would take a bigger package, but Steelers have a boat load of picks. I would think Highsmith and Freiermuth are two contracts Steelers would like to dump. Brown would be great, plus he can reunite with his Ole Miss buddy.

I wouldn’t hate a trade for a WR. Love Freirmuth but he is definitely expendable on this team.

I’m not opposed to dealing Highsmith but I love the depth we currently have.

If we can move some depth for a piece like a WR, I think it be great.. Our WR core is bad outside DK.

I don't view Highsmith/Herbig as depth. Having that consistent pass rush and the ability to rotate those guys 3 is key to the defense being successful.

 

[cdclopper]

I would be so mad if they traded Highsmith. He's one of the guys. Is nobody sentimental anymore? The defense gets him back then suddenly they play to their potential again.

 

[crushedspirit]

Out of that group of WRs I'll happily take Olave. Leave the rest for others, thanks.

 

[karl.Racki]

I would be so mad if they traded Highsmith. He's one of the guys. Is nobody sentimental anymore? The defense gets him back then suddenly they play to their potential again.

68M is a reason why they probably want to move him.. Plus, Steelers develop guys pretty fast as pass rushers. If you can move him, free up money and get value, go for it.

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

Schefter is reporting Steelers are trying to get another WR... AJ Brown, Calvin Ridley, Jakobi Meyer, and Chris Olave are being mentioned. Of course Brown would take a bigger package, but Steelers have a boat load of picks. I would think Highsmith and Freiermuth are two contracts Steelers would like to dump. Brown would be great, plus he can reunite with his Ole Miss buddy.

I can't imagine Brown being dealt or the Steelers giving up enough to get him. He also seems like an overlapping skillset with his buddy.
I am very interested in Ridley and Myers. Neither are stars, but are huge upgrades to the Steelers room. I don't think they would be expensive.
Olave's concussion injury scares me and I expect he would cost a lot in a trade and in a contract.

Jennings would be a name I would like to see added to the list. Not likely, but Bateman would be interesting.

 

[Godsbrother]

Schefter is reporting Steelers are trying to get another WR... AJ Brown, Calvin Ridley, Jakobi Meyer, and Chris Olave are being mentioned. Of course Brown would take a bigger package, but Steelers have a boat load of picks. I would think Highsmith and Freiermuth are two contracts Steelers would like to dump. Brown would be great, plus he can reunite with his Ole Miss buddy.

I wouldn’t hate a trade for a WR. Love Freirmuth but he is definitely expendable on this team.

I’m not opposed to dealing Highsmith but I love the depth we currently have.

If we can move some depth for a piece like a WR, I think it be great.. Our WR core is bad outside DK.

I don't view Highsmith/Herbig as depth. Having that consistent pass rush and the ability to rotate those guys 3 is key to the defense being successful.

Yes depth isn’t quite the right word but having the three allows them to get a breather and if one does go down you still have 2 exceptional starters.

 

[Dizzy]

Schefter is reporting Steelers are trying to get another WR... AJ Brown, Calvin Ridley, Jakobi Meyer, and Chris Olave are being mentioned. Of course Brown would take a bigger package, but Steelers have a boat load of picks. I would think Highsmith and Freiermuth are two contracts Steelers would like to dump. Brown would be great, plus he can reunite with his Ole Miss buddy.

Speculation in the CLE thread is that Jerry Jeudy could be moved.

We know how the Browns like to deal "in Division" to improve their opponents.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

With the schedule ahead, 11-6 is not a stretch and even if you want to be a downer, 10-7/9-8 probably will be enough to take the AFC North
I have you at 7-3 going to face the Bears on the road, 4-3 down the stretch will hit the projection I put out
Again, you can be a naysayer and the sky is falling but the reality is this division is a pile of horse manure at the moment outside of Pitssburgh
Division should be locked up by Week 11

 

[Godsbrother]

With the schedule ahead, 11-6 is not a stretch and even if you want to be a downer, 10-7/9-8 probably will be enough to take the AFC North
I have you at 7-3 going to face the Bears on the road, 4-3 down the stretch will hit the projection I put out
Again, you can be a naysayer and the sky is falling but the reality is this division is a pile of horse manure at the moment outside of Pitssburgh
Division should be locked up by Week 11

They’re off to a good start and nice lead but it’s still early, the season is so long and fortunes can turn quickly in the NFL.

I am just hoping they can keep it going against the Bengals on the road on a short week.

Tomlin’s record on road Thursday night games is not good.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

His record on road on TNF is abysmal, but they have got to win this game, and any games like it. Zero excuses.

The Steelers are healthier, they are way, way better on defense, and they have the better QB at the moment. A loss here wouldn't be a fatal thing at this stage mathematically, but it is basically a game that a team who legitimately feels relevant WRT at least a divisional championship should win 99 times out of 100.

If they want to host a home playoff game, they need to win all of these sorts of games. Yeah, Bengals still have Higgins/Chase/et al. Doesn't matter. That team is a tire fire right now, might be without the only guy they have on D worth a damn, and Pittsburgh has no business playing down to their level given current circumstances (facing "Flacco The Great" or not).