Steelers transformed the way they do business this offseason. The results were dramatic

PITTSBURGH (AP) — On the surface, the call was risky, but only for those who haven’t paid attention to how the Pittsburgh Steelers going their way these days.

All-Pro Miles Killebrew, serving as a backup in the first quarter against Washington on Sunday and preparing to punt, spotted one of the Commanders’ gunners crawling along the line of scrimmage to assist on a potential block, leaving teammate stranded . James Pierre all alone on the outside.

So Killebrew, the captain of perhaps the best special teams unit in the NFL, did what coordinator Danny Smith has given him the authority to do: he gambled, took the snap and delivered a pass to an open Pierre on the left side. Pierre, perhaps showing why he is a cornerback and not a wide receiver by trade, dropped itgiving the Commanders a pristine field position that they quickly turned into a touchdown.

In the end it didn’t matter. Not after the Steelers erased a 10-point deficit in the second half ahead of Washington 28-27 and improving to 7-2 after a game that in many ways symbolized the shift in the tectonic plates that have long governed perhaps the NFL’s most stable franchise.

Zoom out and Killebrew’s decision simply reflects the accelerated sense of urgency that has permeated every level of the organization over the past ten months.

Think about this: the winning touchdown was thrown by a quarterback ( Russell Wilson ) who was not on the roster in February and not in the lineup until October. It was caught by a wide receiver (Mike Williams) who started last week as a member of the New York Jets.

Pittsburgh spent the first two seasons of the post-Ben Roethlisberger era trying to do things the way it has always done them: methodically and pragmatically. Only Kenny Pickett did not perform well. The offense continued to sputter under Matt Canada and the NFL’s most expensive defense played enough to keep the Steelers competitive, but not enough to close the gap between Pittsburgh and the powers in the AFC.

That gorge suddenly looks much more navigable than it did a month ago Mike Tomlin Thank you Justin Fields for his solid, but not always spectacular, play during a 4-2 start and handed the attack over to Wilson. Fields had done everything Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith asked of him. He provided the ball. He used his legs to make plays. He did what he could not to lose games.

However, the decision to go to Wilson came with the message that not losing is no longer good enough. The games with Fields behind center felt so much like the last five years: the defense kept things tight and a few plays from the attack created a narrow path to victory.

Yet the NFL’s longest-running coach knew he hadn’t seen enough. If Pittsburgh wants to end its playoff win drought dating back to the 2016 AFC Championship — the longest gap between postseason victories since the Immaculate Conception 52 years ago — Tomlin knew his offense would have to be more than serviceable are for the Steelers to get the win. Kansas Cities And Buffaloes of the world.

So he turned to Wilson, who silenced his doubters step by step. The final proof came on that lob to the end zone in the final minutes for Williams, something Tomlin had seen on highlight shows but developed a greater appreciation for as he watched it play out right in front of him in real time.

There is still a long way to go, that’s for sure. The final two months include six AFC North games, a trip to Philadelphia and a Christmas Day showdown with Patrick Mahomes and the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs.

If there’s anything to take away from Pittsburgh’s promising first half of the season, it’s that the country is no longer comfortable with the status quo. And Tomlin may have tipped the scales when he talked about a fourth-and-1 call in the final minute that led to Washington’s offside jump, allowing the Steelers to seal the game.

When asked if Wilson would actually hit the ball if the Commanders didn’t jump, Tomlin smiled.

“We’ll never know, right?” Tomlin said. “You all know I’m a degenerate.”

And no longer satisfied with the confidence in the process. Pittsburgh blew like it normally does in the offseason. Nine games later, the Steelers are reaping the rewards during a year where the ceiling seems to be rising by the week.

What works

Spreading the ball. Wilson targeted nine different players (even third tight end MyCole Pruitt got a look) and it tells of Wilson’s “throw it to whoever, whenever” approach that made his bomb against Williams the first time he’d played all day the direction Williams was looking.

What needs help

Not much for a team that is just a handful of plays away from being 9-0. If Williams’ arrival can create more opportunities for George Pickens, the Steelers could have one of the most potent offenses in the league, something they haven’t had since the height of the “Killer B’s” era in the late 2010s.

Stock up

Nine months after the Denver Broncos paid nearly $40 million to let Wilson walk, the nine-time Pro Bowler looks rejuvenated in Pittsburgh.

Stock down

The defense is elite, but sometimes that aggressiveness can be a double-edged sword. Pittsburgh must avoid the kinds of penalties — face masks and pass interference, etc. — that piled up against Washington, allowing the commanders to expand their moves.

Injuries

Pittsburgh will start the stretch run relatively healthy, although depth at outside linebacker could be an issue after Alex Highsmith rolled his left ankle while chasing Jayden Daniels in the fourth quarter on Sunday.

Key number

92.3 — The percentage of teams since 1990 that started the season 7-2 and reached the playoffs.

Next steps

See if they can remain Lamar Jackson’s Kryptonite as the Baltimore Ravens visit Pittsburgh on Sunday. Jackson is just 2-4 against the Steelers in his career.

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