Steelers Could Skyrocket After Bye Week

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers head into the bye week 3-2 and at the top of the AFC North. It hasn't been perfect, but they've fought themselves into an early playoff spot. And coming out of the break, this team could be on the rise.

The Steelers' fourth quarter touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens wasn't a play that will spark the momentum of the offense. Moreso, it was an example of what they can become.

"That was just execution. Every game is a new game," Austin told All Steelers. "There's still stuff we have to clean up. That drive was the optimity of our will and our fight. It that aspect, it's something we will definitely carry on."

What it's a reminder of, though, is that it's possible, and in an NFL season, there's something to longevity that is often overlooked.

"It's a long season. Injuries and stuff happen. When we get everybody back, we're already starting to trend up; Get everybody back and healthy, and I think it'll just be a continuation of what we've been doing, and the execution will only get better," Austin said.

This is a 17-game campaign, and if you're the best team at the end of the, you're chances of making a run skyrocket. And luckily for the Steelers, the back half of their schedule is when they'll have the most weapons available.

With Diontae Johnson coming back, Pat Freiermuth expected to return soon and Anthony McFarland pushing his way back onto the field, the Steelers offense is much more loaded than they were in their Week 5 win. Add Cam Heyward's return to the defense coming around Week 8 and this team is looking up.

"Obviously, he's a really talented guy and we've missed him a lot," quarterback Kenny Pickett said. "He helps move the chains. He gets great separation. He's been a great teammate and leader in that room as well and helping guys out. So, I mean getting him back is going to be massive for our offense. And I think just by watching us you can see that we've missed him, and I think it'll help George [Pickens] out. It'll help Allen [Robinson] and [Calvin Austin] and kind of those guys that have been really working hard and playing a lot of snaps. So, I think it'll be great for us as a whole to get 18 back."

"It opens up the field more. Allows us to play more freely because you can't double everybody," Johnson said. "Once you have me, [Allen Robinson], Kenny [Pickett] and [George Pickens] out there at the same time, you're guessing."

Not playing your best football and still being in first place is as good of a starting ground as a struggling team can get. And if the Steelers have taught us anything over the years, it's that they're capable of growing from Week 1 to Week 18.

That growth looks promising from here.

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