The Pittsburgh Steelers' statement win on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium over the Cleveland Browns has them riding high as they head into their bye week. They now sit at the top of the AFC North division and have a chance to get rested up and healed ahead of their Week 10 matchup on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals. Their 27-6 victory was led by running back Jaylen Warren, who had 143 yards on the ground. The performance gained attention from former New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman who thinks the offense is one of the best in Pittsburgh in a long time.
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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) runs the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter of an NFL game at Acrisure Stadium.
The performance from Warren on Sunday was his season-high so far in rushing yards and the Browns defense had no answer for him throughout the game. Tight end Darnell Washington also had a huge game, as he totaled 94 yards receiving on just three receptions against Cleveland. After a week filled with trash talking, Head Coach Mike McCarthy and his group put a quick end to it and can now head into their bye on a very high note.
On Monday, Edelman was discussing all things NFL on the Gronk & Jules Show. During the episode, he mentioned McCarthy's group during the Game Balls segment. He spoke highly of the offense, mentioning the last time he felt it was as good as it is for the Steelers.
"Man, this is the best the Steelers have looked on offense since Big Ben's like second to last year," Edelman said. "This is, they've never run the ball like this. [Jaylen] Warren's a stud. This is a big win against a team that has been playing good defense in the Browns."
The offense has not always looked good, as it has struggled to find consistency at times through the 2026 season. However, the group is still finding a way to get enough points scored to stack up wins, most recently the team's fourth in a row. This is also happening as wide receivers Roman Wilson and Michael Pittman Jr. are on Injured Reserve (IR). Pittman recently admitted to dealing with injury more this season than he has ever been used to.
Despite the uncertainty, McCarthy still has his offense gelling and they are able to play to their strengths which has allowed them to cover up their weaknesses. One of the ways they have done that is the usage of Washington as they are without two wide receivers. Another way they have been able to do it is by leaning on the running game, where Warren has been a massive asset for them so far this season. These performances are now gaining the attention from Edelman, the former wide receiver for one of Pittsburgh's most hated rivals.
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The defense for McCarthy's group, under the leadership of defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, has also been playing at an extremely high level. Following Sunday's performance, they are now third in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing 83.9 yards per game. In total defense, the group is ranked sixth, with 305.6 yards per game allowed. Those numbers speak volumes to the work Graham has done so far with the group this year. This also eases the pressure on the offense, as they do not need to be a unit that averages 30 points per game or more to win.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham during 2026 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
While the offense still does have its flaws, many of which can be attributed to the absences of Wilson and Pittman, they are still finding ways to come through in clutch moments. Doing so has played a big factor in them now being on a four-game winning streak. When they do start to get healthier on offense, then the group could really take off. Despite the struggles at times, Edelman still was impressed enough to make the comments about them publicly.
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