Kim O’Reilly, CBS Sports
It’s no surprise that Mike Tomlin is an exceptional coach.
This season didn’t need to prove that point, but his team’s impressive 3-0 start certainly highlights his capabilities.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently atop the AFC North, boasting a perfect record of 3-0, even with what amounts to a backup quarterback—soon to be the full-time starter—in Justin Fields. The Steelers are implementing the Tomlin strategy, showcasing a tough and gritty style of play, driven by a solid defense, a powerful running game, and occasional significant passing plays. Remarkably, they have kept every opponent to 10 points or fewer.
Who among you predicted the Steelers would be undefeated at this stage? Probably not many of the folks who don’t don their colors. Yet, here they stand as one of the only five teams still without a loss. The prior quarterback debate of the summer concerning Fields and Russell Wilson feels like it took place ages ago.
Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has effectively crafted the offense to leverage Fields’ skills alongside the running game. Meanwhile, the defense maintains its traditional Steelers identity, highlighted by T.J. Watt, who has the potential to change the outcome of a game, and an improved secondary.
At the onset of the season, I predicted that the Steelers would rank as the weakest team in their division, regardless of their quarterback. This stirred quite a reaction from Steelers fans on platforms like X. I must admit, I was incorrect. Currently, Cleveland holds the title of the worst team, while the Steelers stand out as the strongest.
This week, the Steelers have climbed to fifth place in my Power Rankings as they prepare for a road match against the Colts in Indianapolis. Following that game, they will face a challenging schedule with matchups against the Cowboys (provided they perform well) and the Jets in October.
By November, we will have a clearer picture of the Steelers’ status. For now, they remain undefeated and are executing their style of football effectively.
Once again, this serves as a reminder of Mike Tomlin’s status as one of the league’s elite coaches, underscoring the folly of those who claim his team will be the weakest in the division.
the division.
I get it. I just said it, and I probably look foolish now. Feel free to wave those Terrible Towels in my direction; I deserve that. But remember, it’s still early. Changes happen rapidly in this league.
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