Steelers Read & React: AFC North leaders and Week 2 Chargers preview

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At 2-0, the Steelers sit atop the AFC North standings. How long can they keep this up? Is Roman Wilson the missing piece the Steelers need on offense? Plus, Mike Tomlin and Jim Harbaugh square off for the first time since 2011. What can the Black & Gold expect from the Chargers?

How are we feeling, Steelers faithful? After another offseason of pundits shrugging when talking about Pittsburgh’s chances to win the division and many predicting the Steelers to finish last, we here at Read & React are pretty tickled to see the Ravens and Bengals both at 0-2. Meanwhile, the 1-1 Browns went 2-for-14 on third down Sunday, committed 13 penalties for 100 yards, and were outgained on the ground and through the air by the hapless Jaguars. They narrowly escaped with an 18-13 win anyway. That’s how close the Steelers were to having a two-game lead on the entire division.

This week in Steelers Read & React, we ask if the Steelers can hang onto that lead, and if so, what will it take?

Additionally, we’ve rechristened our “Fact or Fiction” segment “Legit or Quit.” The premise is simple enough: We look at a take we’ve been hearing and determine if it legitimately warrants our attention or if it’s a big nothing-burger we should quit focusing on. This week: Is Roman Wilson the key to unlocking Pittsburgh’s offense?

Plus, we begin a new preview series where we look at the Steelers’ upcoming opponent and dissect their offensive and defensive units.

There’s a lot to discuss, so let’s dive in!

It hasn’t been the prettiest football, but the Steelers are off to a hot start in the standings. How realistic are the Steelers’ chances at winning the division? What will be the biggest factor in determining if the Steelers can take the AFC North crown?

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RB: As Ryan wrote in the intro, the Steelers are 2-0, and their AFC North competition is decidedly not. Heck, the two teams I picked to finish above Pittsburgh in the standings this year both have 0-2 records.

So in that sense, the Steelers winning the AFC North is certainly realistic. But I’m not completely convinced yet. I predicted that the Ravens would have a slow start, and the Bengals ended up having one as well, but an 0-2 hole is certainly salvageable and the Steelers’ two-game lead is hardly insurmountable. The Ravens and Bengals have good rosters and I’m still betting they’ll rebound.

Pittsburgh might hold onto its division lead (or a close second place) through the first half of the season. However, from Week 11 on, it’s tough matchup after tough matchup, with all six division games as well as games versus the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. I don’t care how good the Steelers are — that’s a stretch that would take a toll on any team, and Pittsburgh could easily lose all of its momentum over those eight weeks. That’s the biggest factor by a large margin for determining Pittsburgh’s playoff fate.

The good news is that the more wins Pittsburgh has in the first half of the season, the less stressed its fanbase has to be in the second.

To sum it up: The Steelers are surprisingly in sole possession of first place in the AFC North. That’s cool! But there’s still a long season and much harder matchups ahead. I’m not going to read much into this storyline until much later this year.

RP: Ryland’s right that the back half of the season will be tough if we assume that the Ravens and Bengals aren’t as bad as their current records and that the Browns’ defense will keep them competitive. As much as I would delight in each of those franchises’ downfalls, it’s far too soon to pop the champagne.

We have precedent that the Bengals can start slow and dig themselves out. Cincinnati started 0-2 in 2022 but finished the regular season 12-4.

The Browns are not too dissimilar from the Steelers right now. They have a ferocious defense powered by one of the game’s top edge rushers. They want to run the ball on offense with a limited passing game. If you’ve been frustrated with the Steelers’ offense on third downs, take some solace in the Browns’ struggles. Cleveland is currently 4-for-29 (13.7 percent) on third downs this season.

The Ravens are a well-run organization, but perhaps pundits overlooked how much talent they lost on the offensive line and how much brain drain they experienced in the coaching staff, especially losing defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. Still, you can count on one hand the number of losing seasons the Ravens have had in the 21st century. They won’t just lie down after a tough September.

If you’re inclined to peek at the schedule, here are the combined records of the remaining opponents for each AFC North team:

• Bengals: 9-15
• Browns: 11-13
• Ravens: 14-10
• Steelers: 10-14

As for what will impact whether the Steelers can hold on to win the division? The obvious answer is health, especially on defense. But that isn’t really something they can control. What they can control is the amount of penalties they’ve been racking up. In two games the Steelers have had 19 penalties for a total of 138 yards. Some of those have killed drives where the Steelers looked headed for points after a would-be explosive play.

With an offense not built to win shootouts, the Steelers can’t suffer those types of mistakes and expect to win. The Steelers are bringing in refs to practices this week in the hope of curbing this issue. If they can do that and get the offensive line to gel, the Steelers have a realistic shot at the division.

Legit or Quit: Roman Wilson is the missing piece that will unlock the Steelers’ offense.

Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images

RB: Quit. It’s not that I’m saying Roman Wilson won’t be special, as he’s yet to take an NFL snap, not even in the preseason — but by that same logic, how can we call a third-round rookie who’s never seen the field a “missing piece”?

I liked the Wilson pick when he was drafted and still do, but it seemed like the 5’10, 186-pound receiver was destined for a WR3 role due to his slot build. I thought he’d be a very good WR3, to be clear, but expecting him to develop into a stud WR2 and “unlock” the Steeler offense feels like overly high expectations. He’ll be good, but not transformative.

I think Wilson very well could be the second-best wideout on the Steelers roster, though. He will help this offense take a step forward, even if it takes a few games for him to settle in. But at the end of the day, he’s a small receiver whose game is built on speed, and Pittsburgh already has an army of similar skill sets. I think the Steelers still need to be in the market for a more traditional boundary WR2 even after Wilson joins the offense.

RP: I’m going to say “Legit” but not necessarily for the reason you’re thinking. It’s true; it can’t really go anywhere but up from here for Steelers receivers not named George Pickens. Through two games the rest of the receivers have just five receptions for 28 yards. Any production Wilson can provide as a rookie is desperately needed. However, when I say I think Wilson could help “unlock” the offense, I’m not really thinking about receptions and touchdowns.

No, where I think Wilson would be the most help is taking over the third receiver role so that we can get Calvin Austin off the field for blocking situations in 11 personnel. I addressed this in the Steelers Film Room but Austin is an absolute liability in any scheme that asks him to block. Nothing personal against Austin, but he’s only 162 pounds and it shows. He frequently weighs 20-30 pounds less than the defensive back lined up against him. Wilson, while not huge, is closer to the typical size. More importantly, he seems like a player who buys into the importance of giving his all as a blocker when the ball isn’t coming his way. He said the following while speaking on Cam Heyward’s podcast back in May:

“I feel like it’s just an extension of a passing play, you know? If my running back or even my o-linemen are going to sacrifice their body for me, then I’m no better than to do that for them when they’re trying to make a big play as well… If it’s gonna help the team win, just let’s do it. Let’s dive into it. Let’s be all committed to it.”

Obviously, it’s asking a lot to ask a rookie to come in and be the modern-day Hines Ward for this team. Especially after missing so much time this summer due to injury. But barring any surprise trades, there aren’t any reinforcements beyond Wilson walking through that door. That said, a speedy receiver with more size, a more expansive route tree, and the willingness to get his nose dirty isn’t the worst thing you could add to an offense that is looking to execute better.

The Steelers will face off against the Chargers this week. What can you tell us about Los Angeles’ offense?

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

RB: If you’re hoping for some high-octane passing offenses in Week 3, maybe don’t tune into Steelers/Chargers. But if you like the run game and trenches, this Steelers defense/Chargers offense matchup should be circled on your calendar.

Of course, the household name on LA’s roster is quarterback Justin Herbert. He’s a level above any quarterback the Steelers have faced this year and that’ll be a big challenge. Don’t expect to get bailed out by an end-zone interception this week.

But while Herbert remains a threat as one of the league’s elite passers, his numbers don’t reflect it at the moment (274 passing yards, three touchdowns, one interception over two games). Some of it might be due to his injuries this season (leg injury versus the Panthers, plantar fascia during the summer), but the main reason is because former Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman is running the Chargers offense a lot like Baltimore’s. This is a run-first, physical football team that excels out of big personnel groupings. They just happen to have Herbert as their quarterback.

The Pittsburgh front seven has been a buzzsaw for the last two weeks, but the Chargers’ offensive tackles will be their best opponent yet. Rookie phenom Joe Alt has played incredibly well at right tackle the last two weeks despite going up against Maxx Crosby and Jadeveon Clowney (Joe Alt Delete might be the best new NFL nickname — there’s a reason why the Chargers social media team is the best in the business). Of course, Alt hasn’t faced T.J. Watt yet, but the rookie will put up a good fight.

Alex Highsmith won’t have it any easier on the other side, where he’ll be facing one of the NFL’s better left tackles in Rashawn Slater.

The Chargers O-line as a whole is rock solid in the run game, where LA ranks second in the league with 197.5 rushing yards per game. J.K. Dobbins (another former Raven, and what if I told you his backup is Gus Edwards), leads the NFL in rushing yards with 266 on just the 21st-most attempts (27). Healthy in 2024, he’s one of the league’s most explosive, dangerous running backs.

However, in the passing game, the Chargers’ interior O-line has struggled (although they looked better versus Carolina). This will be a big week for Cam Heyward and co. to wreak havoc. That being said, Herbert remains more than capable of delivering under pressure.

However, Herbert doesn’t have prime Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler to throw to anymore. His receiving corps might not be as horrible as previously thought (Quentin Johnston had a two-touchdown game against the Panthers), but the team’s leading receiver (also Johnston) has just 89 yards this season.

It’s easier said than done, but the keys to victory on Sunday will be reining in the LA run game, pressuring the quarterback, and making the Chargers’ young, unproven wide receiver corps win the game. Ideally, Joey Porter Jr., Minkah Fitzpatrick, and the rest of the ascending Pittsburgh secondary can prevent that from happening.

And what about the Chargers’ defense?

Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images

RP: The Chargers defense is tough to gauge at the moment. Gone are Brandon Staley and his defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley. In are Jim Harbaugh and Jesse Minter. Minter was Harbaugh’s DC for his final two seasons in Michigan. Before his time at Michigan, Minter worked with former Ravens DC Mike Macdonald as the two climbed the coaching ranks in Baltimore. During this time, Minter and Macdonald would watch film together and bounce ideas off each other.

With the Ravens in 2023, Macdonald’s defense was built around muddying up the quarterback’s presnap reads. He would line the Ravens up in unique formations meant to confuse the offense by disguising if and where pressure would come from. Minter’s national champion defense did similar things in Michigan.

I watched a handful of third-down plays from the Chargers’ game last week against the Panthers to try to get an idea of how Minter might call those crucial downs. It’s safe to say Minter and Macdonald share some similarities. On one third down, the Panthers were in shotgun with three receivers bunched on the left side. The Chargers only put four defenders on the line, but rushed six, with two defenders that line up next to the wideouts coming on the blitz. On a similar down and distance, Carolina lined up in empty shotgun with four receivers out wide to the left. This time the Chargers countered with seven defenders on the line of scrimmage, but they only rushed four. On both occasions, they got the stop.

The moral of the story: expect things to get weird on Sunday.

It’s fair to point out that the Chargers have not played stellar competition yet. The Raiders and Panthers were expected to have two of the worst offenses in the league this year, and Los Angeles gave up just 13 points combined.

But if Minter has legitimately upgraded the defense schematically, the Chargers won’t be a pushover even if they regress against more quality opponents. Los Angeles, on paper, has always had plenty of talent on defense, even if the unit failed to live up to the hype. A quick look at their roster, and you’ll see they still have many of those players that made them a trendy sleeper pick in recent years.

Pass rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack are perhaps both past their prime, but are still a formidable duo when healthy. They’re backed up by a familiar face in Bud Dupree.

Ansante Samuel Jr. gives them a promising young CB1 with NFL bloodlines similar to what the Steelers have in Joey Porter Jr. Both Samuel and Porter were drafted in the second round, as was the Chargers’ CB2, Kristian Fulton. Fulton was drafted by the Titans but struggled to stay healthy during his time in Tennessee, never playing more than 13 games in a season. Derwin James hasn’t been his best in recent years, but when healthy he can be a formidable chess piece for Minter.

The linebacker room still has Denzel Perryman taking snaps. Young linebackers Daiyan Henley and rookie Junior Colson have promise but still have a lot to prove.

Join in on Steelers R&R by sharing your takes on this week’s topics. What are your thoughts on the AFC North standings? Can Roman Wilson change the offense for the better? Keys to victory vs. the Chargers? Let us know in the comments! Feel free to pitch future questions in the comment section or on Twitter/X: tag @_Ryland_B or @RyanParishMedia.