To the surprise of many people, the Pittsburgh Steelers have forged a 5-3 record despite having a roster that many would consider substandard.
They defeated the Tennessee Titans, 20-16, on Thursday, and they now trail the first-place Baltimore Ravens by just one game in the standings.
Per CBS Sports Network, while analyst Adam Schein praised the Steelers for finding ways to grind out wins with their defense, he says Steelers Nation has no real reason to feel good about that 5-3 record because the team’s offense is failing.
“Pickett and the Steelers team, they just find a way to keep winning football games. … The defense bailed them out no question about it.”
—@AdamSchein pic.twitter.com/7DXPsijMX3
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) November 3, 2023
Schein pointed to the subpar play of quarterback Kenny Pickett, who has a 61.3 percent completion rate this season and has thrown for just 1,490 yards and six touchdowns.
However, the main culprit for Schein, as well as Steelers fans, is offensive coordinator Matt Canada.
Canada, who had spent many years in the NCAA as a coach in multiple capacities, was Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks coach for one year before he was promoted to offensive coordinator for the 2021 season.
Many Steelers fans have been calling for him to be fired, and it is no wonder why, considering the team ranks near the bottom of the NFL in points and total yards.
It does have two decent weapons in running back Najee Harris and wide receiver George Pickens, who has 521 yards and three touchdowns this season.
Against Tennessee, Harris ran for 69 yards and a touchdown, but Pickens had a rough game, catching just two passes for -1 yards.
Next Sunday, Pittsburgh will host the Green Bay Packers, which will give them a great shot at improving to 6-3.
