Mark Madden: The Steelers' 6-3 record disguises real problems that inevitably await

Here’s the good news: The Steelers have found a few positives to hang their helmets on.

Their running game has erupted behind the insertion of rookie Broderick Jones at right tackle and the diverse combination of power back Najee Harris and scatback Jaylen Warren. The pair totaled 183 rushing yards and two touchdowns in Sunday’s 23-19 home win over Green Bay. The Steelers have gained 371 yards on the ground in the two games Jones has started. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

Their defense allows yards (399 vs. Green Bay) but is either fortunate or opportunistic. Witness two game-saving, fourth-quarter interceptions in Sunday’s victory: Keanu Neal in the end zone, Damontae Kazee at the Steelers’ 2.

Patrick Peterson blocked a Green Bay extra-point attempt in the second quarter to skew what the Packers could do late: Instead of laying up for a game-tying field goal, the Packers had to score a touchdown. They didn’t.

That’s how you’re 6-3 when you’ve been outgained in each of your nine games. That’s how 13 of your last 15 wins have been by inside of one score, including every victory this season.

Here’s the bad news: We know how this will end.

The Steelers will go .500 (or thereabouts) the rest of the way. Before you know it, they’ll be trailing Kansas City or Miami by 20 at halftime of a wild-card playoff game.

They can’t beat a good team in a postseason game throwing the ball like Kenny Pickett is. This isn’t the ’70s. Running the ball and timely defensive play only gets you so far. (Not far enough.)

The Steelers’ 6-3 record isn’t because of brilliant coaching, as the national media would have you believe. Guts has some involvement.

Mostly, it’s just bad opponents and dumb luck.

It’s a Dollar Tree version of when the Steelers started 11-0 in 2020. It was obvious they weren’t any good, but at least they had Ben Roethlisberger’s guile at quarterback. Chickens came home to roost: They lost five of their last six, conceding 48 points at home to Cleveland (!) in a wild-card playoff game.

These Steelers don’t have Roethlisberger. They have Pickett, who is awful.

The Steelers obviously know that. That’s why Pickett rarely tests the middle of the field. That’s why Pickett barely does anything: In Sunday’s win, he was 14 of 23 for 126 yards. He has just six touchdown passes in nine games. That’s embarrassing.

Related:

• Madden Monday: Steelers' frequent close wins are 'mostly just dumb luck'
• First Call: Steelers are early underdogs in Cleveland; Josh Dobbs does it again
• Feats of Strength: Patrick Peterson's big plays, resurgent run game overcome Steelers' shortcomings vs. Packers

Using Pickett thusly is counterproductive in the long term. By eliminating risk from Pickett’s game, he won’t improve. He’s a game manager and a scared one at that.

Pickett has three fourth-quarter comebacks this season. But so does the New York Jets’ Zach Wilson, who also stinks.

Late heroics are more likely when you’re rotten for three quarters and your team has a good defense that keeps you in the game. Fourth-quarter rallies can define prior incompetence even more than last-minute clutch.

Coach Mike Tomlin never looks at the big picture. His lone focus is squeaking out a win in the next game by any outdated means necessary. Not long-term improvement.

That gets you 9-8, but it means no playoff wins in six seasons. You don’t get better like you need to.

Pickett can’t get better by design. There is no design. He isn’t being coached to improve.

But if never having a losing season and being constantly miscast as a coaching genius by ESPN’s Mike Greenberg is your goal, mission accomplished. (By the way, the great coach’s commitment to discipline has produced 414 yards worth of penalties, sixth most in the NFL.)

They say your record doesn’t lie.

But the Steelers’ record often does. It did in 2020 and again now.