Beer We Go Steelers

The Steelers offense showed up and blasted the Colts in Pittsburgh.

MORE TO COME, BLOG IS DELAYED FOR TRAVEL

There is an old saying in football: It’s a 60-minute game. On Thursday night in Cleveland, the Pittsburgh Steelers proved just how much damage you can do to yourself in the middle 30.

The 27-24 loss to the Browns was either an inspiring, late-game fightback led by a future Hall of Famer or a complete blueprint on how to give away a division game on short rest.

Aaron Rodgers got off to a fantastic start and delivered a clutch fourth quarter, leading a rally to put 15 points on the board and tie the game late. He nearly pulled off the miracle at the end as well, finishing with 299 passing yards and three touchdowns. But what happened between that early 7-0 lead and the final frame is the reason the fan base is having a stroke this morning.

Up 7-0 early in the second quarter, Rodgers faced a situation where throwing the ball away was the only acceptable option. Instead, he made a glaringly poor decision, firing the ball right into the hands of Cleveland corner Denzel Ward. The Browns seized the momentum, flipped the script, and rattled off 21 unanswered points before halftime.

Rodgers’ evening wasn’t entirely on him, but holding onto the ball as long as he did on several plays did his offensive line zero favors. The Browns dialed up consistent pressure, hitting Rodgers 10 times and dropping him for 5 sacks. That is far too much contact for any quarterback, much less the oldest starter in the league. The receivers must be more consistent as well.

What makes the offensive lulls so frustrating is that the run game was actually working. The running backs averaged nearly 5 yards a carry overall, and Jaylen Warren came out firing with 49 yards from scrimmage in the first quarter alone.

Then came the middle quarters, where the coaching staff went completely pass-happy, rendering Warren completely invisible right when the offense needed balance. Warren is at his best when he gets consistent touches and builds rhythm. When the coaches finally remembered he was on the sideline in the fourth quarter, he rewarded them by finishing with 123 yards from scrimmage. Had they leaned on the run instead of abandoning it, we might be discussing a victory today.

As much as the offense struggled, putting up 24 points should have been more than enough. Defensively, it was a tale of two halves, and team tackling looks like a major issue.

Cam Heyward played his heart out with seven tackles, but the rest of the defensive line was quiet. Losing Derrick Harmon to a foot injury in the first half—who was seen in a walking boot postgame—crippled the interior run defense.

Meanwhile, the inside linebackers had a sequence on Cleveland’s first touchdown drive they’d probably love to erase from the tape. Patrick Queen missed an open-field tackle against Quinshon Judkins that gained 12 yards. On Jaleel McLaughlin’s 28-yard touchdown run, Cole Holcomb missed his tackle near the 20-yard line. Payton Wilson missed a major tackle in the backfield. He paced the defense with 9 tackles, making you wonder why the coaches took him off the field during that McLaughlin touchdown series in the first place.

And then there was the secondary.

Following the bizarre Joey Porter Jr. debacle—where JPJ practiced with the first-team defense all week only to fake an injury long enough to see himself traded out the door—the back end looked utterly discombobulated.

Daylen Everett stepped into the fire, and burned he got, getting roasted for a 60-yard pass to Denzel Boston. The safety play was no better; Rayshawn Jenkins was missing tackles all over the field early and was eventually replaced by Robert Spears-Jennings, a rookie seventh-round pick. DeShon Elliott is eligible to come off injured reserve next week, and it won’t be a moment too soon.

T.J. Watt did what T.J. Watt does, picking up two more sacks to give him 5.5 on the season. His strip-sack and recovery late in the third quarter was the first time the pass rush got to Deshaun Watson, signaling a stronger finish for the edge rushers. On the next series, Jack Sawyer tipped a pass that led to a Spears-Jennings interception. But in the first half? Watson had all day to sit back and pick apart the defense.

In the years of writing this blog, the special teams always continue to be a wild roller coaster. Cameron Johnston put on a punting clinic, dropping a 62-yard missile down to the 1-yard line with 5:31 remaining to give the defense a chance to flip the field. Johnston averaged 51.8 yards per punt on his five attempts.

On the flip side, what is going on with Chris Boswell? The Steelers made him the NFL’s second-highest-paid kicker, but he’s already missed three field goals this season, including a 48-yard attempt midway through the second quarter. That miss was literally the difference in the game when Browns kicker Andre Szmyt booted a 56-yarder with 10 seconds left for the win.

To top off a chaotic short week, the team looked out of sorts all night. Mike McCarthy seemed to call the wrong number on his substitutions, and his very public blowup with Aaron Rodgers on the sideline was comical on one hand, but somewhat embarrassing on the other.

This team is wildly inconsistent. They show flashes of brilliance, only to look absolutely horrible in all phases of the game moments later. That points squarely to coaching and preparation.

Yet, as painful as this short-week loss was, there is cause for optimism. There are glimpses of what this team can be, just like there are glimpses of what it might be. It all depends on if your beer is half full or half empty.

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Jaylen Warren, who proved once again that he needs to be the focal point of this offense, putting up 123 yards from scrimmage despite being ghosted in the middle quarters.

Also Considered: T.J. Watt for single-handedly jump-starting the defense in the third quarter with his strip-sack, and Cameron Johnston for a booming performance that continually flipped field position.

Beer of the Game: Miller Lite, which is slowly running out of chances. KGB had sparkling wine (I will explain why below).

Steel the Snacks: We were traveling last night, so no official Steel the Snacks setup. KGB made Italian sandwiches—Salami, Provolone, and Roasted Peppers, plus a Mortadella sandwich with Pesto and fresh Mozzarella. We were on a flight, and the plan was to watch using the plane’s Wi-Fi. THAT was a HUGE mistake because it absolutely sucked. We missed huge chunks of the game and had to rewatch the parts we missed this morning to finish the blog. There were several other Steelers fans on board experiencing the exact same frustration!

My stat of the week: 10 hits and 5 sacks. Asking a 42-year-old quarterback to drop back behind a leaky line and absorb 10 hits in a short-week division game is simply unsustainable. Rodgers will be gone by the end of the month if that keeps up. This was also the fifth straight loss in Cleveland and the third straight on Thursday Night Football. Despite dominating the Browns for the last 25 years, the Steelers are now a dismal 1-7-1 in their last nine trips there.

My thoughts on next week: With DeShon Elliott eligible to return from IR, the secondary should get an immediate emotional and tactical lift. With the extra prep time, I am betting on McCarthy to put together a great plan. If McCarthy leans on Warren early and stops abandoning the run, this team will bounce back. The flashes of brilliance are there; they just need to play 60 full minutes.

Jersey of the Week: NO JERSEY again, traveled in my Beer We Go Shirt!

What a difference one week makes, after scoring a paltry three points in an embarrassing loss at New England, the Steelers put up 30 on the Cincinnati Bengals.

Glimpses of the Head Coach Mike McCarthy offense have begun to show. He had a good early rhythm with his play-calling that staked the Steelers to early leads, and Aaron Rodgers set the tone right out of the gate with some precision throws for big plays. Rodgers was a perfect 3-for-3 on the opening drive, capping it off with a pretty ball to Roman Wilson for a 38-yard touchdown less than two minutes into the game. On the first three drives, Rodgers was 10-for-14 as Pittsburgh built a 17-10 lead.

The Bengals’ pass rush got to him a couple of times in the second half, but Rodgers finished 19-for-34 for 292 yards and three touchdowns. His lone interception was a perfect pass that Wilson dropped and landed right in the hands of Bengals safety Jordan Battle, who returned it to near midfield to set up a Cincinnati score just before halftime. The pressure was on the offense after two bad games to start the season, and Rodgers made sure his unit jumped the Bengals off the bus.

The Steelers leaned on Jaylen Warren early and late, and he responded with one of the best games of his career. Getting the bulk of the workload with Rico Dowdle out, Warren had 176 yards from scrimmage and turned in big play after big play. He’ll have to live with getting caught from behind on a couple of plays and tripping over the fifteen-yard line short of the end zone late in the game, but he was the driving force behind the offense. The run game got going early and opened up the passing game for Rodgers, that’s exactly how McCarthy designed the offense and it worked perfectly.

Pittsburgh had five players with receptions of 20 yards or more, including Darnell Washington’s 47-yard catch-and-run that set up the game-winning field goal late in the fourth quarter. Backed up at their own 21-yard line, Rodgers flipped a pass short to Washington, who tiptoed down the sideline all the way to the Bengals’ 32. Washington led all Steelers receivers with 67 yards. Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek, and DK Metcalf all caught touchdown passes, with Skowronek grabbing his first TD reception since Week 1 of last season.

There were still mistakes that need to be addressed. Metcalf was called for holding twice, including one that wiped out an 87-yard run by Warren. There are also still hiccups with the overall offensive operation. The Steelers blew through their three first-half timeouts by the midpoint of the second quarter because they couldn’t get the play call communicated in time, and they had to burn timeouts again in the second half in similar situations. It didn’t haunt them yesterday, but there will be games where they’ll desperately need those timeouts.

The changes on the offensive line seemed to eliminate some of the pass protection issues from the first two weeks. Brock Hoffman and Max Iheanachor made their first starts of the season and kept Rodgers clean for the most part. Dexter Lawrence had two second-half sacks, but there were clean pockets for most of the afternoon. Meanwhile, the tandem of Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick paved the way for Warren, whose best runs came on the left side. The Steelers averaged 6.0 yards per carry, and it would have been higher if not for Metcalf’s holding penalty.

On defense, the Steelers’ only sack of the game came in the final minute, but boy, did Derrick Harmon make it count. With the Bengals driving for the potential tying or winning score, the second-year defensive lineman strip-sacked Joe Burrow. Sebastian Joseph-Day recovered the fumble, saving the game for Pittsburgh.

Burrow got rid of the ball so quickly that it neutralized edge rushers T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig. The key on the Harmon fumble was that the edge rushers stayed in their rush lanes, giving Burrow no avenue to escape the pocket. Inside linebacker Patrick Queen led the defense with 13 tackles. It was a quiet day for Cam Heyward (1 tackle) and Keeanu Benton (0 tackles), and Bengals back Chase Brown averaged 4.7 yards per carry, though his longest run was held to 13 yards.

This was also the first time the Steelers truly missed cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Just before halftime, Tee Higgins bodied up Asante Samuel Jr. in the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown, using his six-inch height advantage to box him out. Samuel was also in coverage when Ja’Marr Chase caught a 3-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Rookie Daylen Everette replaced Samuel for much of the second half to counter the size mismatch. On Cincinnati’s go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth, a blown coverage on 4th-and-2 allowed tight end Mike Gesicki to get behind the defense for an easy score. In the end, Burrow is one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks, and the defense held him under 300 yards when it mattered most.

On special teams, Skowronek recovered a muffed punt early in the fourth quarter, leading to Chris Boswell’s game-tying field goal. Boswell was a perfect 3-for-3 on the day, including two clutch kicks in the fourth quarter. However, special teams coach Danny Crossman has to address a leaky kickoff coverage unit that allowed 26.3 yards per return, leading to 10 Bengals points off favorable starting field position. Meanwhile, returner Kaden Wetjen needs to run more vertically up the field rather than bouncing returns outside.

It wasn’t completely seamless, but finding a way to beat a division rival on the road after a brutal week is a massive step forward.

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Jaylen Warren. He was the absolute engine of the offense today with 176 yards from scrimmage, setting the tone on the ground and opening up the entire playbook for Rodgers. Also Considered: Derrick Harmon for the game-saving strip-sack on Burrow, and Aaron Rodgers for bouncing back sharply with 3 TDs.

Steel the Snacks: I am traveling on business so watched the game at a corporate event.

My stat of the week: 6.0 yards per carry. After struggling to establish any semblance of a ground attack over the first two weeks, the Steelers averaged 6.0 yards per rush against the Bengals, a mark that would have been significantly higher if not for Warren’s wiped-out 87-yarder.

My thoughts on next week: As in three days, the Steelers head to Cleveland to battle the Browns. Todd Monken is going to be out for blood, after former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin called the Browns out. Opposing offensive coordinators are going to try to mimic Cincinnati’s quick passing game to neutralize the pass rush. It’s going to be up to defensive coordinator Patrick Graham to come up with a counter and get his best playmakers in position to affect the game. On offense, if McCarthy continues to let Warren drive the bus and keeps Rodgers in a rhythm early, this team can build some real momentum.

Mike McCarthy might be calling the shots now, but if you squinted at your TV on Sunday, you would have sworn Matt Canada was still holding the play sheet. Through two games, the Steelers’ offense has found the end zone exactly one time. Ironically, the defense has scored just as many touchdowns.

Aaron Rodgers turns 43 on December 2nd, but if this offensive line doesn’t figure it out, he’s not going to be around to celebrate it. Rodgers was asked to drop back 43 times against New England, and he took an absolute beating. He finished the day 23-39, for 187 Yards and an interception which was not his fault, and he capped the play off with a tough tackle.

Rodgers has to play better, but it’s hard to make things happen when you’re running for your life. The right side of the line is a liability right now. Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook are simply not getting the job done. Anderson’s holding penalty wiped out a crucial midfield catch early in the fourth quarter, and on the very next play, he was bullied by Christian Barmore for a strip-sack that turned into a Patriots touchdown.

It’s not just the depth guys struggling, either. General Manager Omar Khan has poured heavy draft capital into this unit, and the communication is still broken. Center Zach Frazier admitted he missed a call to Troy Fautanu, leaving Christian Elliss completely unblocked. The result? A brutal blindside hit on Rodgers, a fumble, and three points wiped off the board. Why wouldn’t the Steelers look at Max Iheanachor and Brock Hoffman, because the current setup is a medical emergency waiting to happen.

The coaching staff loves the running back rotation, but when you are on the road with an offense devoid of reliable playmakers, you have to feed your best guys early. Right now, Jaylen Warren is the best player on this offense. He only touched the ball 11 times for 43 very hard fought yards.

Instead, the staff gave Rico Dowdle the start. A two-run, three-yard opening series resulted in a quick punt, setting the tone for the day. Dowdle finished with 7 carries for 22 yards and two catches for 22 yards. Warren is the undeniable sparkplug. He finished with 77 total yards on 13 touches (43 rushing, 34 receiving). It’s time for McCarthy to lean on Warren to get this offense in gear.

Speaking of leaning on the run: through two games, the offense has called 79 pass plays to just 44 run plays. Asking a 42-year-old quarterback to shoulder that kind of unbalanced volume behind a leaky line is a recipe for disaster.

Giving DK Metcalf the biggest free-agent contract in team history is quickly becoming the worst move of Omar Khan’s tenure. Trading away George Pickens and giving DK the money just is a glaring issue right now.

Metcalf isn’t playing like a big playmaker; he barely looks like a WR2 right now. He finished Sunday with a paltry 4 catches for 27 yards and added two more brutal drops to his resume. With Michael Pittman Jr. sidelined with a foot injury, the team had to turn to rookie Germie Bernard. Bernard actually led the team in receiving yards, but his fourth-quarter bobble turned into an interception, killing a potential scoring drive.

Patrick Graham’s defense did enough to keep Pittsburgh in the game for three quarters. The pass rush made its presence felt, T.J. Watt dominated again with 1.5 sacks, bringing his season total to 3.5. Half of his total from last year. Alex Highsmith added a sack of his own. Nick Herbig forced a fumble on the opening drive. Patrick Queen picked off Drake Maye in the third quarter. Derrick Harmon was a bright spot inside, leading the team with 8 tackles and half a sack.

But the run defense was leaky at best. TreVeyon Henderson and the Patriots gashed the defense for 136 rushing yards, mostly between the tackles. Queen and Payton Wilson have to be stouter at the second level. Henderson’s 39-yard touchdown run right through the guts of the defense, where he went completely untouched, was a massive failure, aided by missed tackles from Asante Samuel Jr. and Rayshawn Jenkins.

The secondary gave up too many chunk plays. Jenkins let Romeo Doubs get behind him for a 63-yard field-flipper, and Jaquan Brisker was badly beaten by Hunter Henry for a 29-yard gain. You can’t give up those kinds of explosive plays to a Patriots offense that didn’t even have A.J. Brown on the field.

The special teams also are underwhelming after two weeks.

The Steelers miss James Pierre as a gunner. Brandin Echols is struggling in the role, missing tackles on New England’s first two punt returns (costing the team 19 crucial yards in field position on the second).

Even Chris Boswell was mortal on Sunday, missing a 57-yarder before connecting from 56. While it certainly isn’t time to panic, he now missed from 50+ in back-to-back weeks. The only unmitigated bright spot on special teams was punter Cam Johnston, who booted the ball 8 times for a booming 48.1-yard average, pinning the Pats inside the 20 three different times.

This offense needs wholesale changes on the right side of the offensive line, a heavier dose of Jaylen Warren, and a lot less reliance on DK Metcalf’s hands. If McCarthy doesn’t find some offensive balance soon, it’s going to be a very long, very painful season.

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: We are going with Derrick Harmon; he was wreaking havoc in the middle. Also Considered: The linebacker core was very good. Also shouting out Aaron Rodgers for making a huge tackle.

Steel the Snacks: We were back home again. So KGB made New England style Crabcakes with New England Stuffies (Baked Clams). The Snacks were great and deserved a better effort.

My stat of the week: It is a bad one ZERO touchdowns, this past Sunday, September 20, 2026, the Patriots held the Steelers to zero touchdowns in a 20-3 loss.

Prior to Sunday’s game, the last time head coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers combined for a no-touchdown game was December 12, 2010, when the Green Bay Packers lost 7-3 to the Detroit Lions.

My thoughts on next week: The Steelers will face division rival Cincinnati. The team that played yesterday has NO shot of beating the Bengals. That being written, I am confident that team won’t be back for a long time. Look for a big bounce back week.

Jersey of the Week:  No jersey again, long story on a closet mishap.

PITTSBURGH — Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. The Steelers won their season opener on Sunday with hard-nosed defense, special teams blunders mixed with splash plays, and an offense that remains an unmistakable work in progress.

If anyone wondered what the Mike McCarthy era would look like in the Steel City, Week 1 provided an immediate, familiar answer: dominant edge pressure, a game-altering defensive touchdown, and just enough veteran savvy under center to survive a choppy, mistake-riddled 20-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons at Acrisure Stadium.

The headline story of this game belonged entirely to Patrick Graham’s defense. Coming off a seven-sack campaign and turning 32 next month, Watt put together a dominant performance.  His short-range ball skills are unmatched across the NFL.

Watt sacked Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush twice, but his signature moment came when he picked off a short pass and rumbled 35 yards to the house for the game’s turning point.

Opposite Watt, Alex Highsmith had a strong performance. Highsmith notched two sacks of his own, including the kill shot midway through the fourth quarter on a crucial third down when Atlanta was threatening to tie the game.

Up front, Cam Heyward delivered another weekly clinic in batting down passes at the line of scrimmage, swatting away three attempts while adding three tackles. Inside, ILB Payton Wilson continues to improve and made a serious case for defensive player of the game, flying around the field to rack up a team-high 13 tackles, including two for a loss.

While Falcons running back Bijan Robinson popped a few runs, Pittsburgh’s front seven contained Atlanta’s best weapon, holding him to 83 yards on 21 carries on a day where Atlanta’s entire game plan hinged on riding Robinson to victory.

The Steelers were without Joey Porter Jr. and Deshon Elliot. Down two key starters, the defensive backfield held Atlanta to just 143 passing yards. Cooper Rush, filling in after Tua Tagovailoa suffered an injury on late Thursday, managed only 12 completions on 22 attempts all afternoon. Jaquan Brisker notched an interception in the first half, while Jamel Dean set the physical tone for the corners with five tackles and a forced fumble.

The secondary’s only real blemish was allowing Robinson to break free for a 23-yard touchdown catch in the first half after Jalen Ramsey couldn’t tackle him in the open field. Outside of that lapse, the corners tackled with certainty. Next week’s trip to New England will present a steeper challenge, but this depleted unit passed its first test.

The high hopes for the McCarthy era offense may still be on hold. Aaron Rodgers went 24-40 and passed for 221 yards and a touchdown, more importantly he had zero turnover , showing sharp touch on multiple strikes that easily could have translated into a 300-yard day with better support from his receiving corps.

Instead, the offense was plagued by self-inflicted wounds. DK Metcalf’s monster training camp didn’t translate to the opener, his last season’s red flags resurfaced. Drops, an inability to win contested catches on third/fourth downs, an end-zone drop, and two offensive pass interference penalties killed drives. The Steelers are paying Metcalf $30 million he simply needs to be better. Roman Wilson missed an opportunity to cement his place, dropping a potential touchdown pass in the end zone.

Michael Pittman Jr. and tight end Pat Freiermuth were bright spots, they went a combined 8-for-8 on their targets. Freiermuth scored Pittsburgh’s lone offensive touchdown on a slick 19-yard strike from Rodgers in the first half.

Mid-fourth quarter, Rodgers took an 8-yard loss on a third-down sack, pushing what would have been a 46-yard Chris Boswell field goal attempt into a 56-yard miss. Later, Rodgers rushed to catch Atlanta with 12 men on the field; the Falcons had 11, the third-down pass fell incomplete, and Metcalf couldn’t drag his feet in-bounds on the ensuing fourth-down try, resulting in a turnover on downs.

There was very little room to run and the Steelers rushed for just 2.8 yards per carry and finished with just 58 yards on the ground. It directly reflects the lack of push up front. The reshuffled offensive line, playing its first live reps together with Rodgers and the starting unit, offered leaky pass protection as well, surrendering two sacks to Za’Darius Smith and consistent early pressure.

Jaylen Warren started out slow, through three quarters. But Warren took over in the fourth, generating 37 of his 73 total yards from scrimmage late, highlighted by a physical 9-yard third-down conversion to seal the win at the two-minute warning. Rico Dowdle, replacing 2025 team MVP Kenneth Gainwell, found virtually no running room in a tough first outing he finished with just 15 yards.

This unit needs dramatic improvement before heading to Foxborough to face the defending AFC champions.

The special teams are again frustrating on all levels. No Danny Smith, but the unit continues to make mistakes under the new regime.

Chris Boswell went 2-for-3 on field goals, but his fourth-quarter miss gave Atlanta late life. Earlier in the second half, Boswell was lined up for a 62-yard attempt when a miscommunication led to an early snap from Christian Kuntz, forcing holder Cam Johnston to throw the ball away and handing Atlanta field position in Steelers territory.

Special teams coordinator Danny Crossman must also address kickoff coverage after the Falcons opened drives at their own 34-, 35-, and 43-yard lines. On the positive side, rookie returner Kaden Wetjen posted 40 total return yards (including a 27-yard kickoff return), while Eli Heidenreich provided 47 yards on two kickoff returns.

It was not the offensive juggernaut that everyone was hoping for. Penalties, drops, and execution errors aren’t entirely on the head coach, but McCarthy’s decision to hold Rodgers and the starting receivers out of preseason action clearly contributed to a rusty performance.

At the end of the day the Steelers did enough to win. Rodgers awarded the game ball to Mike McCarthy postgame, a milestone the local native McCarthy will always remember.

Beer We Go Steelers, Beer We Go!

Beer We Go Steelers, Beer We Go!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: T.J. Watt who put together a big game after what many considered a disappointing season. Also Considered: Cam Heyward batting down passes, Payton Wilson who had a tremendous game and of course Alex Highsmith with the huge effort.

Beer of the Game: Modello for me (Two pitchers worth) and Corona Light for KGB.

“Steel the Snacks”: No Steel the snacks this week. KGB and I played a road game this week. We were at the Snuggery in Palm Beach, a very cool Steelers bar. The crowd was raucous and we had wings and fries.

My stat of the week: ONE win for Mike McCarthy. It wasn’t pretty and at times it looked all too familiar but, imagine the pride it must be to coach your hometown team to a win in the NFL. It is the start of a new era in Pittsburgh.

My thoughts on next week: The Steelers head to their personal house of horrors in New England. They pulled an upset last year when they forced the Patriots into five turnovers. The Patriots are coming off a disappointing opener and have had extra time to prepare. One thing is certain, the offense that showed up yesterday, will not be enough to pull out a victory. They need a much stronger and crisper performance.

Jersey of the Week: NO JERSEY, debuted the BWG 2026 Shirt.  

MORE TO COME

A new chapter for the Pittsburgh Steelers has officially opened, and under the Thursday night lights of Acrisure Stadium, the Mike McCarthy era began with a confident statement. A 28-9 preseason victory over the Green Bay Packers offered a solid first glimpse into a promising tomorrow, even if the rhythm was sometimes stalled by a barrage of penalty flags. The rookie class stepped up, the young signal-callers proved they are ready to compete, and while the offensive line showed some early fractures, they rallied to take control of the game.

Here is the breakdown of who seized the opportunity, and who fell behind in the march toward the regular season.

Forging the Future at Quarterback

The hype surrounding the young arms was palpable, and both rose to the occasion when the live bullets started flying.

• Will Howard: After shaking off some early erratic fire, Howard delivered. He commanded Mike McCarthy’s offense with a veteran’s calm, finishing 7-of-9 for 86 yards and proving the moment wasn’t too big for him.
• Drew Allar: The third-round gunslinger was a revelation. Orchestrating three straight scoring drives, Allar showcased fluid mechanics, strong pocket poise, and the ability to deliver strikes on the run. It would be hard not to be a believer after last night.
• Mason Rudolph (The Veteran’s Warning): Rudolph played his role exactly as expected, a safe, methodical game manager (10-for-11, 93 yards). But with the electric promise shown by Howard and Allar, the veteran might be hearing the footsteps as the battle for the backup job tightens.

The Trenches: Scars and Redemption

The offensive line was the lone unit that truly bled against Green Bay, struggling to hold the perimeter. But amidst the chaos, a warrior returned to form.

• Broderick Jones: Bruised but unbroken. Coming off what looked to be a career ending injury, Jones answered the bell magnificently. He anchored his ground, rebounded with ferocity, and played with the kind of violent leverage this franchise demands. It was a masterclass in resilience and toughness.
• Troy Fautanu & Dylan Cook: A rough night on the edges. Fautanu’s shift to the blind side proved perilous, as he was consistently beaten in pass protection. Cook suffered a similar fate on the right side. If neither can shore up their technique, the door remains wide open for a returning first rounder Max Iheanachor to seize the crown.

The Gladiators: Speed, Instinct, and Violence

When the ball was in the air, Pittsburgh’s playmakers turned the turf into their personal hunting ground.

• Asante Samuel Jr.: A blanket of absolute misery for Green Bay receivers. From a goal-line pass breakup on Jayden Reed to downfield shadow coverage, Samuel looked every bit the apex predator this secondary craves.
• Germie Bernard & Kaden Wetjen: Bernard was electric in the open field, he hauled in four catches for 51 yards. Wetjen exorcised his training camp demons with a 74-yard bomb, a five-yard touchdown snag, and 71 total return yards, proving he can be a lethal weapon in open space.
• Jamin Davis: Reborn on the EDGE, the former first-rounder had a big night and turned some heads. He unleashed chaos with a team-high eight tackles, three quarterback hits, and two sacks. He may not be technically perfect yet, but his motor runs white-hot.
• Robert Spears-Jennings & Devan Boykin: The young safeties hunted with precision. Spears-Jennings continued his meteoric camp rise, flying around for three tackles and a TFL, while Boykin added a TFL and a pass breakup of his own.

Lost in the Shadows

Not all who stepped onto the grass found glory.

• Jack Sawyer: The second-year edge rusher lacked the bend and juice required to terrorize the pocket, managing only a half-sack while failing to apply consistent pressure.
• Kaleb Johnson: The 22-year-old back found himself buried beneath Travis Homer and Lew Nichols in the pecking order. With just three yards on two touches and a noticeable lack of burst, he is trending toward the wrong side of the roster bubble.

Your 2026 Pittsburgh Steelers draft class!

1. OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State

The Steelers set the tone early by grabbing the massive Sun Devil at No. 21 overall. After the Eagles jumped them for Makai Lemon, Omar Khan didn’t panic; he went back to the well to further fortify the line. Iheanachor is a mountain of a man with a basketball background, his footwork is surprisingly fluid for someone his size and he has very good speed. Pairing him with last year’s picks gives the Steelers one of the youngest, most high-ceiling tackle duos in the league. He’s the foundation this whole draft was built on.

2. WR Germie Bernard, Alabama– The Steelers absolutely had to land a receiver after getting snaked by the Eagles in the first round. Refusing to let another ‘Eagles/Lemon’ scenario haunt the war room, Omar Khan got aggressive, shipping the 53rd pick along with a 4th and a 7th to Indy to climb to 47, a clear signal that the Steelers had a ‘must-have’ grade on Bernard. Bernard’s value is in his versatility. He can play outside and, in the slot. He is an elusive runner after the catch, Alabama took advantage of his running ability by using him on jet sweeps. 

3a. QB Drew Allar, Penn State- This was easily the most polarizing pick of the draft. Half the people lauded it, the other half hated it, including one pundit who said, “The Steelers have no idea how the draft works”. While it is clearly hyperbole the bottom line, it was a gamble, but not a high risk one when you have three picks in the third and don’t have an actual plan at Quarterback yet. There is no way he would have lasted until the next round. This is the reason the Steelers hired Mike McCarthy, to develop guys like Aller. The Penn State pick makes a ton of sense. Allar has the “Green Bay” body type and arm strength McCarthy historically loves to mold.

3b. CB Daylen Everette, Georgia- This might be the steal of the draft. Everette has the speed and size to be an elite defensive back in the league. He also will be given time to develop into a starting position. While he isn’t a finished product, he has the tools to be an elite defender.  

3c. OL Gennings Dunker, Iowa– The most “Steelers, Steeler pick of them all” one person wrote on Twitter (X). Absolute road grader who plays with strong fundamentals and has excellent technique. He looks the part of a Steelers offensive lineman and plays with that nasty edge.

4. WR Kaden Wetjen, Iowa- This was another great value pick. Wetjen was the best returner in the draft, despite not having elite speed. He will be a special teams ace and will play in the slot, providing an upgrade over Calvin Austin III. His biggest hurdle will be beating out Roman Wilson for those actual offensive snaps in the slot.

5. FB/H-back Riley Nowakowski, Indiana- The heir apparent to the Connor Heyward spot. He will most likely serve as a blocker in the run game and take the John Kuhn role in the McCarthy offense. This feels like a Matt Cushing type player more than Heyward.

6. DL Gabriel Rubio, Notre Dame- A big run stuffer type defensive lineman. His ability to clog the middle, could allow Keanu Benton to play more outside. This was a very good value pick for this late in the draft.

7a. DB Robert Spears-Jennings, Oklahoma- A depth pick with good size and elite speed. He should get a long look on special teams and has the talent to compete for the nickel role on defense.

7b RB Eli Heidenreich, Navy- Whether he makes the team or not, this was the best moment of the entire draft. The Mt. Lebanon product gets drafted in his hometown, by his hometown team, that is the stuff of movie lore. He is a high character guy with exceptional speed.  He will push to be a special team’s cover guy for sure and could fill a variety of roles.

Overall it is hard not to like the picks, I would have liked to seen a Linebacker snagged somewhere in there but the draft was a solid B with huge potential.

AI Grade: The “grade” depends on how you feel about the Drew Allar pick and the Makai Lemon “fiasco.” If you believe Iheanachor and Bernard can be long-term starters, it’s a solid B+ class. If you think the Steelers were caught off guard by the Eagles and reached for a QB too early, it’s closer to a C+.

It wasn’t the giant splash that the city was hoping for, but in the end they filled a need!

With the 21st pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Arizona State Offensive Tackle Max Iheanachor.

Omar Khan is building in the trenches, and honestly, we’re here for it. Grab a cold one, here is the Beer We Go scouting report on the newest Pittsburgh Strong Man.

The Vital Stats

• Player: Max Iheanachor (pronounced: ee-HAW-nuh-chore)
• School: Arizona State (via East Los Angeles College)
• Size: 6’5″, 321 lbs
• Speed: 4.91s 40-yard dash (the big man can move!)
• Experience: 32 games, 31 starts.

The Scouting Report

The Good: “A Mountain with Wheels”

Max is the definition of the behemoth with speed prospect, there aren’t many human beings this big who move this well.

• Elite Athleticism: His 4.91-second 40-yard dash is rare for a guy over 320 lbs. He’s a former basketball player and soccer enthusiast who grew up in Nigeria, and that footwork shows up when he’s mirroring speed rushers.
• The “Zero” Stat: He didn’t allow a single sack during his senior season at Arizona State. That is the kind of consistency that keeps QBs upright and fans happy.
• Run Game Bully: He isn’t just a pass protector; he uses that massive frame to carve out lanes and become a road grader. He was an All-Big 12 Second Team selection for a reason.

The frustration is he is a “Work in Progress” and a “Raw Talent”

Max didn’t start playing football until late in his teens (after moving to the U.S. at 13).

• Technique: While his physical traits are A+, his hand placement and leverage can still be a bit “raw.” He’s a developmental win that might not be a Day 1 starter unless Broderick Jones’ neck injury lingers.
• The Learning Curve: Coming from the JUCO ranks to the NFL in just a few years is a massive jump. He’ll need to be a “sponge” under Mike McCarthy and the staff.

The Fit: Where does he play?

The Steelers now have a surplus of young tackle talent. Max played mostly Right Tackle in college, but he has the “position flexibility” the Steelers love. This pick puts a lot of pressure on the Steelers current tackle tandem and provides a massive insurance policy (and potential upgrade) for Broderick Jones who has not yet found his rhythm.

The Beer We Go Verdict: B

It’s an “eat your vegetables” pick. It might not be a flashy wide receiver or a ball-hawking corner, but you don’t win championships without a wall. Max has the highest ceiling of almost any tackle in this draft class. If he hits, he’s a Pro Bowler for a decade.

What BWG thinks?

Tom Janikci, BWG President- It’s a no comment type of pick.  I understand that the game is won in the trenches and typically is be down with 3 out of the past 4 drafts going with lineman 1st rounders, however, I’m just not feeling Max is the next Alan Faneca.  I’d bet the Career of Max Starks is better than this dudes when it’s all said and done.  Hope I’m wrong!!

MMP- It starts up front and he has freakish speed, I am excited.

KGB: Our O-line definitely needed some revamping so this was a great pick. Was not happy with the camera work, since I saw Max’s friend’s underwear, instead of his reaction.

D-Man: Third time picking a tackle in the first is the charm…Right?

Little Miss Tailgate: I am excited with our pick from last night. Hopefully with Max, we will be able to protect our QB a little better and tighten up the offensive line.

What AI thinks?

Draft Night Toast: Here’s to Max Iheanachor—may your blocks be pancakes and your jerseys stay clean. Welcome to the 412!

It finally happened. After 19 seasons, 193 wins, and a coaching tenure that spanned nearly two decades without a single losing season, Mike Tomlin has officially resigned as Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

While the 30-6 playoff loss to Houston was a bitter pill to swallow, today isn’t about the final score. It’s about the 19 years of leadership that preceded it. Mike Tomlin didn’t just coach a team; he defined a culture through his “Tomlinisms”,pithy, profound truths that became the heartbeat of the South Side.

As we look toward an uncertain future for the first time since 2007, let’s look back at the five quotes that define the legacy he leaves behind.

1. “The standard is the standard.”

The Legacy: For 19 years, this wasn’t just a catchphrase; it was a mandate. Tomlin inherited a Super Bowl-ready roster and kept it competitive through total rebuilds, defensive overhauls, and the post-Ben era. He never let the outside world’s expectations lower the internal bar. He leaves the facility today with that standard intact: 19 years, 0 losing seasons.

2. “If you have red paint, you paint your barn red.”

The Legacy: This might be the most “Tomlin” of all his philosophies. He was a master of resourcefulness. Whether it was winning games with Duck Hodges and Mason Rudolph or reinventing the defense after losing stars to injury, Tomlin coached the team he had, not the team he wished he had. He was the ultimate pragmatist.

3. “We don’t live in our fears. We live in our hopes.”

The Legacy: From his very first season, Tomlin was a risk-taker. He coached with a “go-for-it” mentality that sometimes frustrated fans but always empowered his players. He walked away today the same way he coached: on his own terms, looking toward the future rather than fearing the end.

4. “The strength of the pack is the pack.”

The Legacy: Tomlin’s greatest achievement might have been the locker room. In an era of “diva” wide receivers and high-stakes ego, he kept the Steelers’ “pack” together. Players like Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt didn’t just play for the Steelers; they played for Mike Tomlin. He understood that the collective was always more powerful than the individual.

5. “You don’t rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training.”

The Legacy: As he steps away, this quote serves as a challenge to whoever fills his shoes. Tomlin’s teams were always prepared, always conditioned, and always disciplined. He believed that success wasn’t a “switch” you flip on Sundays; it was a result of the work done in July at Saint Vincent.

What’s Next for Steelers Nation?

For only the second time in my life, the Rooney family is looking for a leader. Mike Tomlin didn’t just win games; he was a steward of the franchise’s soul. Whether you were ready for a change or are mourning his departure, there is no denying that the man “painted the barn red” every single day he was in Pittsburgh.

Thank you, Coach. The standard will always be the standard because of you.