For the first two weeks of the season, the Steelers' offensive line was one of the biggest questions on this football team. Against Cincinnati, however, Pittsburgh finally found something that worked.
The Steelers made two changes on the right side of the offensive line, replacing Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook with Brock Hoffman and rookie Max Iheanachor. The results were immediate. Aaron Rodgers had more time to operate, the running lanes were noticeably better, and the entire offense looked like a completely different unit.
And nobody benefited more than Jaylen Warren.
Warren ran for 127 yards on 17 carries, averaging an impressive 7.5 yards per carry, while adding another 49 yards on three receptions. That's 176 total yards from Warren, and he consistently found running room that simply wasn't there during the first two weeks.
The offensive line helped Pittsburgh finish with 411 total yards, a massive improvement for an offense that had struggled to consistently move the football early in the season. The Steelers also rushed for 138 yards, showing that this offense can be much more effective when the line creates opportunities for the running game.
Perhaps the biggest example came late in the game.
Warren appeared to have an 87-yard touchdown run, but the play was wiped out by a holding penalty. Instead of letting that mistake derail the drive, Warren came right back with a 26-yard run, helping put Pittsburgh in position for the game-winning field goal.
That's what stood out most about Sunday. The offensive line didn't just block better—it changed the identity of the offense.
Hoffman and Iheanachor gave Pittsburgh a spark on the right side, and suddenly Warren had running lanes, Rodgers had time, and the Steelers were moving the football.
After two frustrating weeks, the offensive line finally looked like the strength of this offense—and that could be a massive development moving forward.