Terry Bradshaw doubts the Steelers can reach the playoffs without a miracle
· Yahoo Sports
Terry Bradshaw’s blunt playoff assessment of the Steelers arrived before Week 3, when Pittsburgh was 1-1 and struggling offensively. The Hall of Fame quarterback said his former team would need a miracle to reach the postseason. Pittsburgh then answered with a 30-27 win over Cincinnati at Acrisure Stadium.
Visit somethingsdifferent.biz for more information.
Aaron Rodgers delivered his strongest performance of the season, throwing for 292 yards and 3 touchdowns. The victory moved the Steelers to 2-1. Bradshaw’s warning remains part of the wider discussion. Rodgers looked far sharper than he had during the opening 2 weeks, while Pittsburgh’s defense again produced a late, game-changing turnover.
Bradshaw delivered his verdict before Week 3
Bradshaw spoke at Erie’s Bayfront Convention Center on Sept. 24 about the Steelers’ playoff chances. Erie Times-News reported that he said, “Not going to make it (to the playoffs) this year. We’re praying for a miracle, but let’s be honest. It’s not going to happen.”
The comments came after Pittsburgh’s 20-3 loss to New England. Rodgers completed 23 of 39 passes for 187 yards and 1 interception, while the Steelers managed only 3 points.
The early concerns centered on the offense, with blocking problems and pressure on Rodgers. Pittsburgh’s defense had kept the team competitive through the opening 2 games, including a defensive touchdown in Week 1 and 2 takeaways against New England.
Pittsburgh answered with a 30-point performance
The Steelers changed the immediate conversation by scoring 30 points against Cincinnati. Pittsburgh repeatedly answered Bengals scores before taking a 30-27 lead on Chris Boswell’s 4th-quarter field goal.
Rodgers completed 19 of 34 passes for 292 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. He threw scoring passes to Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek and DK Metcalf, giving Pittsburgh 3 different touchdown-catching receivers.
Jaylen Warren added 127 rushing yards on 17 carries and finished with 176 total yards. An 87-yard run was erased by a holding penalty, but Warren still provided the explosive running plays that had been missing during Pittsburgh’s first 2 games.
The offensive line still matters
The Cincinnati game showed improved efficiency, although blocking concerns remain. Pittsburgh needs enough protection to keep Rodgers comfortable and enough run blocking to give Warren consistent opportunities.
One key stretch came in the 3rd quarter, when Pittsburgh produced an 11-play, 79-yard touchdown drive. Rodgers completed 2 important passes during the possession before finding Metcalf for a 6-yard score that restored the Steelers’ lead.
After Warren’s long run was negated, Rodgers hit Metcalf for 14 yards, then found Darnell Washington for 47 yards before Warren added 26 yards on the ground. The sequence helped Pittsburgh regain control late in the game.
Source: [email protected]/DepositphotosRodgers gave the offense a needed lift
Rodgers entered Week 3 with a mixed start to his Pittsburgh tenure. He threw 1 touchdown against Atlanta, then went without a touchdown pass in the loss to New England while committing 1 interception.
Against Cincinnati, Rodgers produced a much different line. He attacked multiple areas of the field, connected with several targets, and finished with 3 touchdown passes while leading a 30-point effort.
The performance provides a significant data point after 2 uneven games. It also came against a Cincinnati team that entered the matchup 2-0, making the performance part of a meaningful divisional victory.
The defense remains a major part of the story
Bradshaw’s remarks also came with recognition that Pittsburgh’s defense had played well early. Through the first 2 games, the unit had allowed 13 points per game and recorded 4 takeaways under coordinator Patrick Graham.
With 44 seconds remaining and the Bengals driving, Derrick Harmon sacked Joe Burrow and forced a fumble, which Sebastian Joseph-Day recovered to end the threat. The play gave Pittsburgh one final defensive stop when the Bengals were threatening to tie the game.
Cincinnati still scored 27 points, so the defense wasn’t dominant from start to finish. The late turnover, however, preserved a close division victory and gave Pittsburgh another example of its ability to finish a game.
Fun fact: Before becoming an NFL star, Terry Bradshaw set a national high school record in the javelin throw. His 244-foot, 11-inch throw in 1966 attracted major college attention.
The AFC North keeps the pressure high
Pittsburgh is now 2-1 after beating Cincinnati, which also moved to 2-1. The Steelers have already played 1 AFC North game and face Cleveland next, only 4 days after their game against the Bengals.
Cleveland also moved to 2-1 in Week 3, keeping the AFC North closely grouped early in the season. Pittsburgh’s Thursday night matchup in Cleveland comes before games against Indianapolis and Tampa Bay.
The later schedule includes another meeting with Cincinnati, plus Philadelphia, Denver, Houston, Jacksonville and 2 games against Baltimore. That makes the division portion of the schedule especially significant.
Source: Jaguar PS/Shutterstock.comBradshaw’s warning now has a new context
Bradshaw’s assessment was made when the Steelers were 1-1, not after their Week 3 victory. Pittsburgh’s win does not erase the problems that prompted his comments, but it provides a direct counterpoint to the picture surrounding the team before Sunday.
The victory featured productive quarterback play, explosive rushing, multiple receiving threats, and a decisive defensive takeaway. Those are confirmed developments, although 3 games remain a small sample for judging the season.
Bradshaw’s “miracle” remark remains part of the early-season conversation rather than a description of Pittsburgh’s current record. The Steelers enter the next week at 2-1, with a division win and a stronger offensive performance added to the evidence.
TL;DR
- Bradshaw said he did not expect the Steelers to make the playoffs and called for a miracle.
- Pittsburgh answered by beating Cincinnati 30-27.
- Aaron Rodgers threw for 292 yards and 3 touchdowns.
- Jaylen Warren produced 127 rushing yards and 176 total yards.
- Derrick Harmon’s strip-sack of Joe Burrow sealed the victory.
- Pittsburgh still faces a challenging schedule.
Read More From This Brand:
- Terry Bradshaw faces fan criticism over FOX Sports role
- Terry Bradshaw delivers a blunt verdict on what the NFL has become
- Mike McCarthy takes blame for the Steelers offense after Rodgers struggles vs Patriots
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.