Steelers Have Perfect Opportunity To Get Their Run Game Rolling Against Falcons

The Pittsburgh Steelers are just days away from hosting their season opener against the Atlanta Falcons and officially kicking off the 2026 season. Mike McCarthy will officially make his regular-season debut as the head coach in Pittsburgh. Along with McCarthy comes a brand-new staff and a roster with familiar faces in different roles. McCarthy aims to bring his offensive philosophy to an organization in dire need of change. 

One of McCarthy's first personnel decisions was moving both Mason McCormick and Troy Fautanu from the right side to the blind side. Both men played the entire season on the right side in 2025 and will now return to their college positions. It also appears that Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook will man the right side in Week 1, but nothing is official yet.

While the offensive line has some shuffling pieces, expectations remain high. Fautanu, McCormick, and Zach Frazier are all entering their third seasons and are expected to make huge leaps in 2026. So far through three exhibition matches, the unit has not lived up to the standard. They have given up pressure, generated very little push, and even looked lost at times. 

As the offensive line goes through its early growing pains, it's going against a Falcons front seven that will be without its top two edge rushers and doesn't feature any world beaters up the middle. September 13 is gearing up to be a nice tune-up game for the Steelers' trenches. Team insider Mark Kaboly appeared on a recent episode of Kaboly + Mack, where he explained why he believes the run game must step up and take control. 

“Last thing you want to see also too, Atlanta teams a little susceptible to some running than to have a 12-carry, 36-yard game by their offensive running game. You don’t wanna see that at all.” 

The offensive line has typically taken a couple of games to get things going and find their groove. In Week 1 of last season, the offense had just 53 rushing yards as a team and didn't eclipse 100 rushing yards until Week 4 in their win against the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, Ireland. Kaboly believes they need a fast start to this season and to get the run game going early. 

Aaron Rodgers, at 42, is not the player he once was. If the Steelers want a chance this season, their offensive line must step up in a big way, and that starts with a dominant run game against Atlanta. With a running back room consisting of Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren at the top, the group is more than capable of starting the season fast and even ascending down the stretch. 

Dowdle is coming off his second straight 1,000-yard season and returns to McCarthy's offense. The former Dallas Cowboys standout had a career season under McCarthy, and now has potentially the best offensive line of his career. Warren has become a fan favorite in Pittsburgh thanks to his hard running style and superb ability to break tackles. Warren split the RB1 duties in 2025 and will do so again in 2026. 

Steelers Looking To Bounce Back Offensively

The Steelers' offense ended the 2025 season on a sour note, fitting the narrative of the last half-decade. Pittsburgh's offense has been inconsistent and featured an extremely low ceiling as a group. Now with McCarthy at the helm, the offense is looking to return to its dynamic ways. Starting with his reunion with Rodgers from their time in Green Bay, the duo won a Super Bowl with the Packers, had lots of success, and are looking to go on one final run in the Black and Gold. 

With a fast start in Week 1, the offense has a huge opportunity to turn things around and finally be respected by NFL defenses. The offensive line has three rising stars that are looking to really step up in year three. Week 1 will be a huge tell for how the season will go for the Steelers. If they can't take control of a weak front seven, it could be more of the same in Pittsburgh. 

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