After Monday night’s comfortable home win over Miami, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said “belief is starting to pick up.”

He seemed to be trying to talk himself into it. Or perhaps his teammates. Maybe the citizens.

It feels like the Steelers are headed to the same destination as last year. The last eight years, really. But optimism is up slightly after winning two straight for the first time in two months, as evidenced by Acrisure Stadium not booing “Renegade.” (“Renegade,” in fact, coerced a three-and-out from Miami.)

Is this Steelers team better than last season’s?

Probably not.

The Steelers are 8-6 now but were 10-4 at this point in 2024.

Rodgers seems an upgrade over Russell Wilson. Rodgers’ performance is currently ascending, where Wilson was fading a year ago.

But their stats are similar: Wilson had a passer rating of 95.6 last season. Rodgers is at 98.8. Wilson had 16 touchdown passes vs. five interceptions in 2024. Rodgers currently has thrown 22 TDs and seven picks. Rodgers’ numbers are minimally better.

I’d rather have Rodgers. Unless the Steelers don’t win a playoff game. Then 2025 is just another wasted season with a fossil at quarterback.

The Steelers are all-in to win a playoff game. They don’t seem at all concerned about the big picture. That’s good, because it’s elderly and grim.

T.J. Watt was better last year: 11½ sacks then, seven sacks and likely out for the season now. Watt might never win a playoff game, but he could win a medical malpractice lawsuit against the Steelers re: his punctured lung. (A word to the wise: Shenderovich, Shenderovich and Fishman charge 25%. The rest charge 40%.)

The Steelers had George Pickens last year. Adam Thielen isn’t his equal. Duh.

Given that Jonnu Smith is on the pay-no-mind list, I’d rather have Minkah Fitzpatrick at safety than Jalen Ramsey. Not least because Ramsey at safety wasn’t the plan to begin with.

Kenneth Gainwell’s outstanding game on Monday duly noted, I’d rather have Najee Harris’ performance and power from last year. (Harris only played three games for the Los Angeles Chargers this season before popping his Achilles tendon.)

Pat Freiermuth was a factor last year with 65 receptions. Now he has just 31 catches and is clear second fiddle to the fat kid.

The team stats were better last season.

Those Steelers ranked 23rd in offense, 12th in defense.

These Steelers rank 27th in offense, 28th in defense.

Perhaps belief favors this season, as Rodgers suggests/hopes. But something more tangible would be nice.

So if you want belief to pick up … win out. If you’re indeed getting better … win out. To build legit momentum … win out.

Good teams go on runs like that.

If the Steelers win their last three regular-season games and hike their winning streak to five, it’d feel like 2005 when the Steelers won their last eight games, including the Super Bowl.

Even though this team is a lot older and not nearly as good. That team had a 23-year-old Ben Roethlisberger entering his prime. The current team’s quarterback seems about to disintegrate. But you get the idea.

I’m tweaking Rodgers because it’s funny. But give Rodgers credit.

I’m not sure whether he’s Zen, or weird, or something in-between, but he’s playing chess while most are playing checkers, and that’s on and off the field.

He was scary efficient vs. Miami. Vanilla but a very flavorful brand, like a freshly cracked-open carton of Breyers. He dumped off a lot of balls to Gainwell. But occasionally he’d zip in something more consequential, like his 28-yard dart to DK Metcalf for the Steelers’ third touchdown.

Rodgers is a winner. Always has been. (Except he hasn’t won enough.)

But at 42 and with a meh roster assembled around him, how far can he take the Steelers? Because the object isn’t to be better than last year’s Steelers.

Can Rodgers win a playoff game against a team that’s better than the Steelers? Because all of the potential foes are. The Steelers have zero chance against Buffalo and superstar quarterback Josh Allen, or vs. Houston’s punishing defense. They might beat Jacksonville or the Los Angeles Chargers. But both those teams are better, however slightly. (Buffalo and the Chargers have already beaten the Steelers.)

All this assumes the Steelers win the AFC North and qualify for the playoffs.

If they don’t, then last year’s Steelers were definitely better.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)