Gerry Dulac: As quickly as the Steelers found their run game, their big-play passing attack disappeared

Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Nov 25, 2025

Published in Football

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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers appear to have cured their inability to run the football, something they were determined to do.

And, between Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, they have been mostly responsible for the explosive plays in their offense. Good thing, too.

They haven't had that in their passing game, particularly from their wide receivers.

And, based on the way the defense is bleeding points, it might be a good idea to change that.

The Steelers didn't have a pass play longer than 21 yards in their 31-28 loss in Chicago, and that was by run-blocking receiver Ben Skowronek on the third offensive snap of the game.

It became especially apparent once the Steelers fell behind 31-21 early in the fourth quarter when all they could do was pick and peck their way down the field to close the gap.

Granted, they eventually scored a touchdown on a 3-yard pass to tight end Pat Freiermuth, but the methodical 17-play drive used 7:47 off the clock because of a lack of explosive plays.

The Steelers got the ball back with 1:29 remaining and no timeouts and never got farther than the Bears 47 before Mason Rudolph's fourth-down pass was deflected and fell incomplete with 17 seconds left.

Nonetheless, the lack of quick-strike plays, which were somewhat present early in the season, have dwindled like their once-cozy lead in the AFC North.

And they might start needing them if the defense continues to allow points at a pace (23.9 per game) that is the most since the 1988 season.

"I think there's never been panic here," Rudolph said. "I've been around the Steelers long enough to know we've been behind, down, in the division, up. It's a natural ebb and flow of the season. I'm very confident in our guys to keep fighting and end up on top."

Rudolph was talking about the Steelers dropping into a first-place tie with the Baltimore Ravens (6-5) in the AFC North after once having a 3 1/2 game lead on their chief division rival. But he could've been describing the drop off in the passing game.

The Steelers have the fourth-fewest pass plays of at least 20 yards (24) in the league, and that's after having eight in their first two games of the season. They have had only five in their past four games and eight in their past five.

Three of those are by receiver Roman Wilson, who has played half as many snaps (133) as No. 1 receiver DK Metcalf (275) in that span.

Three others were short passes that were turned into longer gains by running back Gainwell (28, 20 yards) and tight end Darnell Washington (31).

Their inability — or reluctance — to stretch the field has become as glaring as the glow on Light Up Night.

Metcalf leads all Steelers receivers with eight receptions or 20 yards or longer but has just two in the past six games. Wilson and Calvin Austin III each have three, but Austin, whose speed makes him a deep threat, doesn't have any since Week 2 against Seattle.

Gainwell has two, same as Washington, Skowronek and Pat Freiermuth. Jonnu Smith, who had four among his 88 catches last season in Miami, has one.

And it's not as though the Steelers are shy about throwing the ball. They are averaging 33 attempts in their past five games.

The Steelers do not appear to be in any hurry to sign receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, a former Aaron Rodgers target in Green Bay, to the active roster. Maybe it will change if Rodgers pleads hard enough with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

Meantime, while the running game has produced chunk runs of 35, 37 and 55 yards in the past six games, it might be a good time to find some type of similar plays in the passing game.

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