Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2014 Midseason Grade

By seanmeyers @sdmeyers1 on October 28, 2014

Through the first eight weeks of the NFL season, the Pittsburgh Steelers have shown flashes of being an elite team but have counteracted that with several dreadful performances. Overall, the Steelers sit at 5-3, just outside the top six teams currently in the competitive AFC playoff picture.

The highs and lows for the Steelers at the midway point of the season may top any other squad in the league, and Pittsburgh’s inconsistency makes the team so difficult to gauge.

These troubles date back to the season opener against the Cleveland Browns. Pittsburgh jumped out to a commanding 27-3 lead at the half only to collapse after halftime, allowing the Browns to tie the contest. Pittsburgh escaped with a 30-27 win courtesy of a last-second field goal, but the game would foreshadow things to come.

The positives (convincing victories over the Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts) and negatives (crushing defeats to the Browns and Baltimore Ravens, and a last-second loss to the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers) equate to a record that’s good enough to keep alive both AFC North division title and Wild Card hopes for the black and gold.

Over the past two weeks, the Steelers have played their best football of the campaign, which provides hope that the team can finally get over the hump of consecutive 8-8 seasons and reach the playoffs.

There’s little doubt that the offense has improved considerably over past seasons, as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger set a franchise record for passing yards on Sunday, and he’s on pace to eclipse 4,700 yards passing in 2014. With the improved offensive line providing him with more time to throw, Roethlisberger is having perhaps the finest season of his career thus far.

Additionally, Pittsburgh is loaded with talented playmakers at wide receiver and running back. Antonio Brown ranks first in the league in catches and second in receiving yards, while Le’Veon Bell trails only DeMarco Murray and Arian Foster in rushing yards.

While the offense is making a case to be among the league’s best, the Steelers’ defense has been a weakness throughout the season. The victory over Carolina may be the only impressive effort the D has produced this season, as injuries to the linebacker corps and secondary woes have plagued Pittsburgh.

Promising linebacker Ryan Shazier has spent much of his rookie season sidelined, as has second-year pass rusher Jarvis Jones. Shazier just returned after a month absence, and with Jones’ return impending, the Steelers may soon receive a boost on that side of the ball.

If this grade was given two weeks ago after Pittsburgh’s deflating setback to the Browns, the Steelers would have received a “D”. Their turnaround since then has been drastic, however, as the team redeemed some of its early-season blunders.

Unquestionably, the Steelers need to develop consistency, as well as find some answers on defense, especially against the pass. At 5-3, though, Pittsburgh has done enough to not only remain competitive, but to give hope for an extended playoff run for the first time since 2010.

Midseason Grade: B

Sean Meyers is a professional wrestling writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and “Like” him on Facebook