The Pittsburgh Steelers finally ended their three-game losing skid by securing a 27-19 victory over the Denver Broncos in Week 5 action. Though they managed to get back in the win column, the team still had tough luck as they lost WR JuJu Smith-Schuster to a season-ending shoulder injury.
Fortunately, the Steelers do have multiple weapons that can fill in the hole and spearhead their offensive attack moving forward. After improving to a 2-3 record, Pittsburgh will still have to work hard to prepare for a tough matchup against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 6 proceedings.
Steelers takeaways from big Week 5 win over Broncos
3. The offensive line is continuously improving
Looking back, Pittsburgh's revamped offensive line was certainly seen as a huge question mark heading into the season. In fact, the group didn't perform well in their recent matchups, which helped lead to a three-game losing skid from Weeks 2-4.
However, the offensive line finally made its presence felt in Week 5 against the Broncos with improved run blocking. As a result, it allowed both the running game and the passing game to operate more smoothly as compared to their previous tilts.
The combination of Dan Moore and Kevin Dotson was pivotal for the Steelers' performance in Week 5. Both linemen will continue to play crucial roles as the rest of the offensive line tries to perform better and be a more cohesive unit in the trenches in the weeks to come.
2. Pittsburgh can finally rely on its running game
In the past few years, the Steelers didn't really consider their running game as the strongest weapon in their offense. However, things significantly changed this season with the arrival of rookie Najee Harris. He has been holding his own through the first five games of his NFL career and continues to prove that he was worth taking in the first round of the draft.
With an improved offensive line, Harris was able to have another impressive outing as he produced 122 yards on 23 attempts to go with a rushing touchdown. Another rusher in Benny Snell Jr. notched 20 yards on five carries, while Kalen Ballage also tried to contribute in limited snaps.
Despite being a rookie, Harris has been consistent in his production and continues to serve as a major weapon for the Steelers on the field. He will have to stay healthy in their coming games as he will surely shoulder a huge load on the offensive end for the remainder of their campaign.
1. Ben Roethlisberger showed that he can still play
Prior to the season, many were skeptical when veteran QB Ben Roethlisberger chose to return to Pittsburgh for his 18th campaign in 2021. His advanced age along with his immobility on the field was eventually exposed by their opponents, especially during their three-game losing skid.
With the help of his offensive line, though, Roethlisberger didn't absorb much contact in Week 5 and was able to perform well on the field. The passing game was on point as he threw for 253 yards on 15-of-25 attempts to go with two passing touchdowns for the Steelers. His outing turned out to be enough to seal the victory for the Steelers and help them improve to a 2-3 record.
Yes, the 39-year-old is merely a shell of his former self, but he continues to find ways to make things happen for his team. Fortunately for the Steelers, their veteran playmaker managed to bounce back against the Broncos, which prevented them from further extending their losing skid. Heading to Week 6, Roethlisberger will hopefully continue to perform on the field against a shoddy Seahawks defense. His performance will dictate the level of success the Steelers will achieve for the rest of the season.
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