Friday, October 30

It's a feel: AFC North football is a different breed.

It's a different feeling. A different atmosphere.

There is an intensity that isn't felt anywhere else.

And on Sunday, it will be on display in full effect when the Steelers take on the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium in a battle for first place in the division.

"It's a feel," said linebacker T.J. Watt. "If you go to the stadium on Sunday, you'll get a really good depiction of it. I think it's hard-nosed football, very competitive. It seems like each and every year there's a really good fight for top position. Obviously, it's early in the season, but these games matter a whole lot. You've got to understand that, even though it's still early."

The Steelers lost to the Browns in a Week 4 matchup in Cleveland, 27-24, earlier this season.

Watt knows the atmosphere on Sunday is going to be insane and he can't wait.

"Last week was far away from home (in Paris) and it felt like we had a lot of the home crowd feel with the fans," said Watt. "We're just really looking forward to being back at home, getting a routine and having a home game.

"Steelers Nation is going to be incredible. I already know that."

While the atmosphere will be great, Watt wants to make sure they do their part on the field as well.

Following the loss to the Browns, the team has won three straight games, and they don't want to stop now.

The Steelers defense is ranked No. 1 in the AFC overall, and second against the run in the conference.

Watt likes what he sees from the group.

"I think we have a lot of talent," said Watt. "We have a good mix of young and old like I've been saying all year long. We're continuing to get better. and as you see, we're able to get to the quarterback more. Any time you can stop them for 17 rushes for 18 yards, it allows you to get more aggressive in the pass game.

"I think the young guys are coming along well, and the older guys that have been at different teams, or the first or second year here, are starting to mesh with what we do.

"It's got to continue to be on the rise as we go about the season."

Praise for Rodgers: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been firing away this year, attempting more than 40 passes in three games this season, while throwing 30 passes or more in the other four games.

It's something Browns Coach Todd Monken knows they have to be prepared for, as Rodgers' arm can stretch a defense and keep them off balance for four quarters.

"He's been doing it for years, right?" said Monken. "I said it last time we played him. A first-ballot Hall of Famer, Gold Jacket, one of the all-time greats. It's never fun, but that's the NFL. You're going against the best of the best, and every starting quarterback in the NFL is elite. And then there's tiers of that. They're all elite, or they wouldn't be one of the best 32 in the world at what they do.

"Then you start to take the ones that have done it at such a high level for a long time, and there's a reason why they throw it that often, because he's good at throwing it, and that's why you throw it that often.

"When I think of Aaron Rodgers, I think of accuracy, quick release and operation. That's what I think about. Having another coach on the field. I always say, when you play those quarterbacks, when you have a chance, you've got to find a way. I'm not saying we can or can't, but those are the hard guys, because when they have the ball at the end, they're hard enough with three downs, let alone you give them four downs. So, you've got to find a way, when you can, to build on those leads, because it comes down to the end, those guys, they're not going to blink."

In the last meeting, a 27-24 Browns win, Rodgers engineered a late touchdown drive to tie the game at 24-24 with 1:42 to play in the game. While the Browns fought back for a game-winning touchdown, Monken knows he is among the best at the two-minute drive and controlling the line of scrimmage.

"I'm pretty old, so I've seen some pretty good ones," said Monken. "When I was at Jacksonville, I saw Peyton Manning in the same division, it was the same way. I've seen it watching Tom Brady. I wasn't in the same division, but you would see it then. And all of your elite quarterbacks have that ability at the end of the game, just like any professional player, right? A great basketball player has the ability to make the last shot, right, when it's on the line, or a great hitter comes up and comes up with a clutch base hit, or a closer.

"Those are the guys that are hard. They're not only elite at what they do, they have that certain confidence that they've done it time and time again."

A little extra meaning: Coach Mike McCarthy grew up in Pittsburgh as a Steelers fan.

And for a kid who watched the black and gold, that meant one thing.

You weren't a fan of the Cleveland Browns.

McCarthy remembers hearing everything about Cleveland, and when he first went there, it wasn't what he expected.

"I was shocked the first time I went to Cleveland because it looked like nothing I was told it looked like," said McCarthy. "They have nice suburbs. They've got a good downtown. But the impression of what you think of the Cleveland Browns and Cleveland as a kid is different."

McCarthy remembers the Steelers-Browns rivalries of old, something that still motivates Steelers fans today.

"I enjoy it," said McCarthy. "I remember the great rivalries in the old days, the Cardiac Kids, and the history of it too. That's cool.

"When I do bring it up, I don't think some of the (players) even know what I'm talking about when I do bring up the Cardiac Kids and some of those years.

"This is a new era, and they've got a new coach, and we have a new coach. We had our first game together up here in Cleveland. It was a tough battle. So, I'm looking forward to getting it on again."

The Browns got the best of the Steelers in their first meeting, winning 27-24 at Huntington Bank Stadium in Week 4.

McCarthy knows they aren't going to change things this week to try and get the win, but instead build on what they did well against the Browns.

"I just think build off of where we are today," said McCarthy. "Let's not lose sight of what we've accomplished the last three weeks. Recognize what they've done the last however many weeks. They have four or five victories coming back in the fourth quarter. So just recognizing those specifics of what's being done, how they're doing it.

"At the end of the day, we need to play to our play style, play to everything we believe in, the specifics of it, and our performance will be where it needs to be to win a game."

Playing the Browns twice in a short window could be an advantage, but it also could go the complete other direction.

"I wouldn't say it makes it easier," said McCarthy. "It probably makes it more current. Just watching them, there hasn't been a lot of change as far as the depth chart.

"You've got to make sure the personnel, how you think they're going to line up. What are they doing differently? How are they using their guys differently? What are we doing differently? How do we think it's going to affect how they play?

"We do so much pre-planning. Like for instance, our coaching staff, their Friday and Saturdays in Paris were spent on Cleveland. That's what we normally work ahead. So, everybody else is ready. I personally don't till Monday. 
"I don't think there's been a tremendous amount of change."

Familiar foe: Offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio knows what the Cleveland Browns are all about.

He understands the type of football that is played there.

He gets the fans base.

He knows the passion.

Because he has been there.

Angelichio was an assistant coach with the Browns from 2014-15, getting a first-hand experience of what football is like in Cleveland.

And he feels the same thing in Pittsburgh.

"They're two very similar cities, two very passionate fan bases," said Angelichio. "It's a big deal for Cleveland. Obviously with this being for first place in the division, it's even bigger.

"It will be a great atmosphere. Can't wait to get our home crowd behind us and kind of repay Cleveland back because they had a good crowd out there the last time on Thursday night.

"Certainly know we've got the best fans in the country, and they will be juiced up and should be a great atmosphere."

The Steelers lost to the Browns, 27-24, in Week 4.

The time between the rematch is short, and Angelichio knows how tough the Browns defense has been playing as of late.

"They're playing good defense," said Angelichio. "I think they do a great job over there. Their players play really hard, really fast.

"They're an attacking front. Their linebackers are downhill. Their safeties are very active in the run game. They're going to try to get everybody committed. They're going to try to stop the run. They're going to press us. We know they're going to do that. They're going to bump and run, all that stuff. They're going to play post safety.

"I don't see them changing. I think that's what they're good at. That's how they've been playing good defense. They make it hard on you. They're good in the red zone. They're good against the pass. So, I anticipate that being what they're going to do.

"They'll have a little wrinkle, probably some kind of different pressure, some kind of mug, pick, stunt on third down. They'll have something that's different, but by and large they're going to be four down. They're going to have (Grant) Delpit down in the box, and they're going to try to get him involved every way they can."

Stuffing it: The Steelers defense is ranked No. 1 in the AFC, and second against the run in the conference.

And there is a reason for that.

The stout play up front in stuffing the run.

Coach Mike McCarthy credited a portion of that success to the coaching staff, including defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. McCarthy praised Graham, and offensive line coach James Campen on the other side, for the team's success in the trenches.

"First two guys I hired, enough said," said McCarthy. "No one does it better in the front.

"Patrick, his origin is defensive front, linebacker. Started off as an offensive line coach, which I loved that about him in his journey and as we talked football over time.

"And James Campen, I think, is the best O-line coach in the league. I've felt that way for decades."

Graham said the reason for the success is the approach they are taking to control the line of scrimmage, putting it as one of the top priorities for the team every week.

"One thing that goes into each week, we talk about the musts for the game," said Graham. "So, Coach mentioned it, control the line of scrimmage for the offense, and definitely talked about it defensively in terms of just what we try to do as a staff, ID three things that, if we get those things done, it gives us a chance.

"I thought going into that game, and really for the last -- we say it all the time, but really focusing in on it, if we control the line of scrimmage and stop the run, it's going to be hard for them to win the game.

"Philosophy-wise, we try to funnel it back to the big guys. You want those guys making the tackles. So, any time you can funnel it back to them, I think you get less leaky yards.

"They're the bigger men. We pride ourselves on having size there, and they do a good job of evaluating and bringing guys in there where they should win their one-on-one blocks. It's our job on the second level to pull off the double-teams and create those one-on-ones, and they've been doing a good job of that."

Thursday, October 29

Hot as a firecracker: Coach Mike McCarthy likely described it best when talking about running back Jaylen Warren.

"He's hot as a firecracker," said McCarthy.

And it's a spot on assessment.

Warren is the NFL's seventh leading rusher with 561 yards on 102 carries, which is the fewest carries of the top six backs to date.

Warren is also fourth in yards from scrimmage in the NFL, with 855 yards.

So, what is working for Warren right now?

"I don't know. I'm just playing ball," said Warren in a hushed, humble tone. "I'm enjoying being in the building with my teammates. The brotherhood we created. We want to be out there.

"We don't look at this as an occupation, as a job, something that's an obligation.

"It's fun for us.

"It's good. We're popping off runs and you can't ask for much more than that."

Warren is quick to give credit for those runs they are 'popping off.'

He isn't one to pat himself on the back for it. Not for a second.

Instead, he gives credit where he feels credit is due.

To his offensive line.

"I wouldn't want to run behind any other offensive line," said Warren. "They're very specific in detail and how they work. And that's why the running game is what it is.

"That's why I'm putting up the numbers I'm putting up, because they work hard every day and it's showcasing on Sunday."

Warren has seen the offensive line gel since the start of the season, even with some changes they have undergone.

"As strong as our chemistry is already, we're still building on it," said Warren. "I think every game we get better. It's just good to see, good to run behind, and it's so good to play with them."

Still streaking: The Steelers currently have a three-game winning streak, but for Coach Mike McCarthy, getting the next one is what matters.

Following the win over the Saints in Paris, McCarthy said it was 'important for us to go 4-0' during the team's current stretch.

To reach that goal, they would have to defeat the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium.

Not so easy, though.

The Browns and Steelers share the same 5-2 record, but the Browns are in first place in the AFC North courtesy of defeating the Steelers, 27-24, in Week 4.

"Got a big game coming up with Cleveland, a division game," said McCarthy. "All those things are part of your equation each and every week.

"The way the schedule comes out every year, you can probably break it into quarters or trimesters has been my personal experience. When you chart your schedule, there's training. How do you look at September? I've used September as an extension of training camp, how we're training the team.

"October is such a transition month for your team, the padded work, fundamentals. All those things factor, and it's all part of the planning. I think it's underrated for what a head coach brings to a program. I've always felt that how you schedule your team, how you train your team, the internal resources balanced with the external resources, that's all part of the equation of creating the environment.

"Everybody throws the buzz word culture on it, but it's so much deeper in that what culture truly means, with your structure and your training regimens and your scheduling, is a huge part of how you operate. The city you live in, the external resources.

"This is what keeps coaches up late at night. I know it does me, personally, because at the end of the day, it's about winning and creating the environment and the structure for your players to be the best they can be because ultimately, they'll be the best they can be for your organization.

"Bring it up in quarters, in trimesters, it gives you a chance to plug and play. Doing it for a long time, you have metrics that you can say, this is where I think I'm at compared to the way it was, however many years ago.

"The CBA has changed the way you can train the team, and we're all on an equal playing field there. To me, it's part of the chess match of being a head coach."

Knowing what to expect: The Steelers defense had an impressive showing against the Saints in Paris, holding their run game to only 18 yards.

A lot of that success was thanks to the team's inside linebackers, who showed up big time.

Patrick Queen led the team with 10 sacks, including seven solo stops, while adding a sack and a pass defense.

Payton Wilson chimed in with six tackles, three of them solo stops, and an interception.

"They're talented," said defensive coordinator Patrick Graham of why they found the success they did against the Saints. "I think we probably have two of the fastest linebackers in the league, I would guess.

"Two, their willingness to be physical and get downhill and then just the way we have our run fit structured in terms of try to make it less complicated. I don't try to make it too complicated because we change fronts often. So just making sure, hey, this is a press situation. This is a squeeze face situation.

"I think they're getting familiar with how I talk about the run. It takes a while, I think, just because of the big picture in terms of how I see it and how I run the play. They took to it, and it's been building.

"I think that part of it is an extension of training camp as well. Learning how we're going to fit in the run, how we're going to…not knowing the fits, but just knowing how it plays together based on the call, especially when we start changing up fronts and plugging pressures and things of that nature. It changes a little bit."

The Steelers defense is currently ranked No. 1 in the AFC, including second against the run.

A lot of that has to do with the style of play Graham saw from Queen and Wilson against the Saints.

"The aggressiveness they played with, but not just the aggressiveness, I think they knew what was going to happen," said Graham. "When you get to Week 7, there's tape of that. Again, I don't want to be a broken record, but once you get past Week 6, there's tape now. When they line up in this formation, it's either this or that. If they do something different, so be it, we'll adjust to it but play to it.

"I think it's always important for us as coaches to empower them on Sundays, hey, play to it. It's 75, 80 percent, play to it. If it's something else, that's on me, but play to it. You're seeing that start to take place as we get into the season."

Wilson's interception off Saints quarterback Tyler Shough was in part due to tape. It was also due to his daily work in practice.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers even quipped after the win over the Saints about Wilson intercepting him in practice the week leading into the game on a similar play.

That was only part of it.

"He's been working on that," said Graham. "I saw the interview when he was up there with Aaron and what happened in practice, but there's more to that. There's more to that. Not just that play with Aaron, this goes back to OTAs. This goes back to the whatever, Phase 2 training. When you talk about the 2-by-2 sets and the different tools and the different mannerisms in terms of how you can get to that space and then be willing to take that shot.

"He's been working on that. Put it this way, it was a real cool moment for both him and the coaching staff. I know the coaches like (defensive pass game coordinator Jason Simmons), he has been preaching that. That's NFL football. That was a cool moment. The deeper that story goes is a cool moment and all the tools that go into it."

Crashing thunder: To some people, it might have looked like a Chinese fire drill or organized chaos.

For special teams coordinator Danny Crossman, it was something simple.

"Thunder."

"Everybody has a different name for it," said Crossman. "It's been Toro, Hurricane. Every team, every coach has a different name for it. But it's third down, no timeouts, hustle on the field, field goal."

It's a situation you don't see often, but at the end of the first half, 'thunder' came into play.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers had just been sacked for a four-yard loss, and with time rapidly ticking away, no timeouts, and facing a fourth-and-10, speed was a factor.

Rodgers was able to get up fast following the sack, get the offense off the field, while kicker Chris Boswell and the special teams unit rushed onto the field.

They moved so fast, there wasn't even an opportunity to switch from the ball the offense uses to a kicker ball.

The Steelers managed to get the kick off with just three seconds in the half, with Boswell connecting on a 47-yard field goal to send the Steelers into the half ahead, 13-10.

Crossman said it's a situation the team prepares for, even if it's one that doesn't happen often.

"It's something that we, especially early in training camp, that's a multiple times a week situation," said Crossman. "We spend a lot of time working situations. We have periods designed just for specific situations, and obviously that's a big one that comes up. There's a lot of things that go into that -- the time on the clock, where it ends up, how far down the field people are.

"Offensively they did a great job hustling off. The guys from the sideline did a great job getting on, and really had a lot of time available, so to speak, there at the end of that thing.

"There's 22 seconds when the offense snapped the ball. Obviously, we understand without any timeouts we're in that alert. With the sack, it eliminated the possibility of how close is it? Do you have to make any kind of decision?

"It was clear. It was evident. Then the guys did a great job getting in and the execution was well done."

Crossman said the preparation for a potential field goal begins as soon as the offense takes the field, making sure the unit is aware of all circumstances.

"Any time we take over possession, the conversation with all the guys on the field goal team ties into here's how many timeouts we have left," said Crossman. "Once we get to one timeout remaining, I'm going to come back and find you and make sure you understand with one left, as soon as that thing disappears, we're automatically into that alert.

"In that situation, we started with the one. It came on the Germie (Bernard) play down the field. We had to use that timeout. Immediately when we took over on 1st-and-10, we knew we were out of timeouts. Right from jump street, the offense could control it up to third down. If not, we were going to be in 'Thunder.'"

Crossman said seeing it play out the way they prepare is something that brings satisfaction.

"It's nice," said Crossman. "That's one of those situations where you practice it a whole bunch. We've had years where I've had several of them, and then you may go eight or nine years without having one. It's something that you rep constantly. You talk about constantly. It's always in the reminders and the situation stuff weekly, but rarely does it come up.

"I think teams do such a good job with holding onto their timeouts anymore, that usually everybody's got one in the pocket to be able to use, so you're not really in that situation. Again, really good execution by the players. They were dialed in, and it went very, very smoothly."

Trusting the process: Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is trusting his players of late and the Steelers' defenders have been taking it from there.

"There's tape now," Graham maintained on Monday.

Enough to study and reach conclusions regarding what's coming next.

"When they line up in 'this' formation, it's either 'this' or 'that,'" Graham continued. "If they do something different, so be it, we'll adjust, but play to it.

"I think it's always important for us as coaches to empower them on Sundays, 'Hey, play to it.' If it's 75, 80 percent (that a certain play is coming from a certain formation), play to it. If it's something else, that's on me, but play to it."

Inside linebacker Patrick Queen appreciates Graham trusting his players, when they recognize a tendency pre-snap, to trust what they see and trust their ability to communicate it across the defense.

"Just having full control of what's going on on the defensive side the last two weeks, and us collaborating on what we're seeing, what we feel, between me, (inside linebacker) Payton (Wilson) and the safeties and 'Rams' (cornerback/safety Jalen Ramsey)," is how Queen explained the process. "Just making sure we're all on the same page so that our D-line knows what we want, we know what we want and the DBs know what everybody wants.

"That way we can all play together and play fast."

Graham has also emphasized his desire to gather information from the players as a game is progressing regarding what's being called and how the calls are playing out.

Queen appreciates that, as well.

"At the end of the day a 'D.C.' is your 'D.C.' for a reason, so obviously you let him call the game," Queen maintained. "But at the same time, once we get into the game and we get into a feel of things you start picking up on tendencies and keys and stuff. Then you try to roll with a suggestion to the coach."

Queen cited what he remembered as a 1- or 2-yard gain on a running play in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Saints in Paris as an example of how that's being applied in games.

"(Graham) was kinda freaking out about me having to go so far to be able to try to get to that spot where Jaylen blitzed from," Queen said. "I was just telling him, 'I can make it, just chill, you can call the play.' Just small stuff like that, just trying to have that trust between each other."

-- Blog entry by Mike Prisuta

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Wednesday, October 28

It's AFC North football: The last time the two teams played, the outcome was far from what defensive tackle Cameron Heyward had hoped for.

The Steelers lost to the Cleveland Browns, 27-24, in Week 4 after clawing from behind and tying the game, 24-24, with 1:42 to play.

That was when the Browns went on a seven-play, 36-yard drive that ended with an Andre Szmyt 56-yard field goal to send the Browns fans home happy and left the Steelers disappointed.

"Didn't handle adversity well," said Heyward of what he remembers about the game just four weeks ago. "We didn't keep them out of the end zone. I know our offense battled back. We can't surrender a drive like that for them to win the game."

Since then the Steelers have been a team that has found success in the fourth quarter, winning three straight since that Thursday night loss.

The Browns, though, have kept their last-minute wins intact, including a 27-24 win over the Titans last week thanks to another Szmyt field goal.

Heyward understands if they want a different outcome this time around, shutting down the Browns late will be a necessity.

"It's going to be critical if we talk about trying to win this game," said Heyward. "You've seen the games they've won. It all comes down to the fourth quarter, and you've got to have a finish mentality.

"We didn't do a good job, having Deshaun (Watson) run. (Quinshon) Judkins, big plays with (Harold) Fannin, (K.C.) Concepcion and others. So, we've got make sure we're on our Ps and Q.

"Keep them out of the red zone."

Playing the Browns twice in such a short window can work for or against a team, but Heyward doesn't make much of it either way.

"That just happens when you have AFC North football," said Heyward. "You understand the type of football you want to bring. It's come down to the fourth quarter a lot of times, especially those Baltimore and sometimes Cincinnati games. And Cleveland is playing to that respect. I can't wait to see what it unfolds into."

Happy to be back: The minute DeShon Elliott turned around at his locker, a smile spread across his face.

Because he knew what to expect.

A wave of cameras and reporters stood waiting to talk to the safety who was activated from the Reserve/Injured List less than a week ago, and played in his first game in over a year on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints in Paris, France.

"Felt good," said Elliott of being back. "I'm just happy I'm healthy. Felt good. Stacking days."

Elliott played 19 total snaps against the Saints, 33% of the defensive snaps, and three snaps on special teams.

He was asked if he is hoping for more snaps this week.

"That's not a question for me," said Elliott. "I'm just happy I'm healthy. I'm going to play wherever they need me, when they need me to play, whatever role that's going to be."

His workload for this week against the Browns hasn't been determined yet, but he didn't appear on the injury report on Wednesday.

"He looks good," said Coach Mike McCarthy. "The most important part for him was to get him back out there, get him acclimated, get him back into game speed. Everything's been positive.

"The week preparation will answer all those questions (about his usage.)"

Could he play a full game this week against the Browns if needed?

"I got my feet up under me last week," said Elliott. "Played 20 something snaps. Felt good. My role was whatever they wanted me to play."

No matter how many snaps he plays, he is simply enjoying being back.

"Just happy to be able to practice with my guys, play with my guys," said Elliott. "Trying to be a leader for our defense.

"It felt good though, felt like myself. First drive, I felt a little odd, I didn't play in a while, but after that, I felt good. Honestly, I feel better today than I did even after the game. Time will tell what happens."

Critical wins: The Steelers have been in some tight games in 2026, pulling out victories in any manner possible.

It's those tight wins that can teach you the most about your team, your culture, and your approach.

And Coach Mike McCarthy has learned plenty about his team lately.

"It's great. We need these games, trust me," said McCarthy. "I'd like to win by 21 points every week, but you need these games. I've had an experience being 15-1 and not having really any close games, and then you get to the playoffs, and whoa, here you go, now you're in one.

"So, dance those dances, have those memories. I think it's all part of your journey and what you can help try to emulate for your team.

"But close games are critical. Cleveland has won a bunch of close games. That pays forward."

The most recent close game was the team's 16-10 win over the New Orleans Saints in Paris, where the team got into the end zone only once.

They had to rely on kicker Chris Boswell for three field goals, including one with time running out in the first half and no timeouts that was a scramble to even get set for.

"Everybody talks about being comfortable in those moments," said McCarthy. "Everybody trains game management. Everybody trains those situations week in and week out, going all the way back to the OTAs.

"But to have it in live action, the thunder, the rush on field goal for us right at the end of the half, I don't know how many times we practiced that, and our guys, bang, they nailed it. It was perfect. You have to have those moments in live action.

"With that, I do, I feel like we're building confidence, we're stacking it. I think there's a tremendous amount that comes off of that win, especially on the road. The travel stress…stress is additive, whether it's physical, emotional, mental. That's a reality of life. It's a reality of how I feel, how you need to train the team."

McCarthy felt a good feel from the team on the trip to Paris, from playing cards on the plane to interaction in the team hotel and of course, how they played.

"I love the vibe of our guys. I like the cards, I like the interaction," said McCarthy. "I liked everything about the trip because it wasn't easy. It wasn't easy for anybody. There's a lot of good that comes out of it. Most importantly, we won, and that's where you can put the stamp on it.

"Your preparation is separate from the performance. It's human nature to think, oh, we didn't prepare right. That's why we didn't win the game. Or we prepared so good, why didn't we win the game?

"I think you've really got to watch that, but if you see things in your preparation during the course of the week and then they show up on Sundays, that's the responsibility of us as coaches. And that's where I'll kick myself and say, I saw that on Wednesday and I didn't re-do it on Thursday, those types of things, because things can carry. You get what you emphasize.

"I think in today's world generationally, it's raising children, you get what you tolerate too. I think you've just got to be conscientious of those things as you break seasons into quarters or trimesters, or you talk about the importance of close games. All this is very important in putting together a run, and we're trying to complete a four-game run right now. That's what we set out to do. We've got a chance to do it here at home. So, we're right where we need to be."

Big boy football: The Steelers offense knew what they wanted to do against the Saints, and they did just that.

They ran the ball.

The offense put up 148 yards rushing, with Jaylen Warren accounting for 101 yards.

One of the reasons for the success in the ground game was the use of Spencer Anderson as a sixth offensive lineman in the jumbo package.

Offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio said it brings a little bit of an attitude to the offense when they go to the jumbo package, especially when it works the way it did against the Saints.

"Spence did a good job," said Angelichio. "Did a lot of it last year. He's athletic. He can do some things. You can throw him the football too. So, he's not always just a blocker. 
"It was good. Now you get a chance to have Spence and Darnell (Washington). So, if they want to play a nine technique and try to blow up the wing, now you've got Darnell on the wing. Then if they get heavy and put a six in there, now you've got Spence there.

"So it gives us some flexibility. And I think what makes it come to life is Spence's ability to be viable in the pass game and be viable to do some of the tight end stuff, which you saw last year."

The Steelers didn't use the package much in the offseason, including OTAs and training camp, because Anderson was working at right guard at the time.

Now that he is an option to be used in jumbo, the timing was perfect.

"Once we made the move with Brock (Hoffman) (at guard), we were like, well, hey, let's get Spence involved," said Angelichio. "He's a valuable piece, and he's a smart guy. He knows the offense. Like I said, he's legitimate in the passing game too. So certainly, want to try to build off that."

Nothing unusual: There was some slipping and sliding on the field at Stade de France when the Steelers played the Saints in Paris, but according to special teams coordinator Danny Crossman, that's nothing unusual.

"That's Europe in the fall," said Crossman. "Ive played over there several times now, whether it's been in Germany or England. That time of year, when you're playing at 2:30 in the afternoon over there, it's a wet, rainy season. The fields and the grass are slick.

"They like it slick for soccer, and the ball moves well on the field, but for us the field is a little bit softer and a little bit slick. The cleats and that stuff become a big part of that.

"There was a lot of slipping on the field, but I think you see that when you watch all the international games on grass."

Lew Nichols slipped on a kickoff return, one of several players who had a similar experience.

Being the first NFL game in Stade de France, which is designed for soccer, was a test for how the field played, wind conditions and more, and it passed the test.

"It is a process," said Crossman. "And the hard thing is when you play in a stadium here that maybe a player hasn't played in, you can access all kinds of video of certain times of year, what was the weather, what was the wind, what was the sun, what was happening. So, there's opportunities to show visualization of what you're about to see.

"Without having those resources where you're flying in there blind a little bit, it makes it interesting. Fortunately, with our veteran guys, they're pros. They were out there really early trying to get a feel for it. What a beautiful facility that is.

"It wasn't a factor like you might have thought it was going in. Especially when we flew in on Friday, it was very, very windy. I think the stadium didn't swirl. It was more of a straight one-direction wind towards their sideline. So that made it a little bit easier, it wasn't a swirling wind."

Can you hear me now?: The praise Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy had for center Zach Frazier today included an observation about Frazier having "found his voice" in an increased leadership role this season. Frazier maintained he'd never really lost it.

"I feel like in games I've always been able to talk," Frazier said. "I have no problem in those situations. And then something different for me was he made me a captain a couple weeks ago and I had to talk. It's been something I can do.

"It's definitely uncomfortable for me. I think it's a good thing that I was kinda put in that position and then I think people responded well to it."

Frazier was named one of the three weekly captains for the Steelers game against the Bengals on Sept. 27, a 30-27 victory at Acrisure Stadium.

"I didn't have to talk, but I did," Frazier clarified. "I'd rather just play but I definitely speak when I need to."
McCarthy also assessed Frazier as having "a great year."

Not surprisingly, Frazier had less to say regarding that topic.

"I just want to keep building and try to play consistent every week," he offered. "That's what I try to do week in and week out."

Frazier and his teammates along the offensive line helped pave the way for a season-high 148 rushing yards on a season-high 30 rushing attempts in last Sunday's 16-10 victory over the Saints in Paris.

"We love running the ball," Frazier said. "We'd run it every play if we could. We feel like we can run the ball on anyone."

The Steelers have surpassed 100 yards on the ground as a team three times this season, all in the last five games (138 against the Bengals, 127 on Oct. 11 against the Colts and the 148-yard outpouring against New Orleans).

The two times they failed to reach triple digits on the ground in that span were a 92-yard effort on Oct. 1 at Cleveland and an 89-yard day on Oct. 18 at Tampa Bay. Frazier thinks there's more where all of that came from based on the way the offensive line has been playing of late.

"Yeah, I feel like we're definitely making strides in the right direction," he said. "I feel like we still have room to grow. We'll just continue to keep pushing upwards. We're not going to be complacent. We're gonna keep pushing for more."

-- Blog entry by Mike Prisuta

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