As the gloom and doom rolled over the Pittsburgh area after another Thursday night stinker in a rival town, the fans were going bananas over the loss to the Brownies.

The Steelers media and fans were having a field day over the last week and a half, talking about whether they should bench Rodgers. Should they fire the GM? Should they trade the whole defense? Why would you trade Joey Porter Jr.?

While all those talks and speculations are fun and sometimes frustrating, the reality is that the Steelers have some very seasoned vets in that locker room who have experienced the lowest of lows and the highest of highs. They know how to come to work every day and put one foot forward. Every week is a new week, and they proved it yesterday in Pittsburgh.

There are so many things to cover, but I want to start with the Steelers’ best offensive weapon. A guy who has never gotten his flowers, even though real Pitt ball knowers know this dude has been elite. JAYLEN WARREN. STAND UP, BIG DAWG!

As Big Mike said best, “He’s the man.” DAMN RIGHT.

Jaylen Warren had 15 carries for 101 yards on the ground, with an average of 6.7 yards per carry and a 50-yard scamper into the end zone. Warren added 6 catches for 87 yards, with one being an 80-yard touchdown for the first score of the game.

Warren continues to impress with his upgraded workload ever since Rico Dowdle got injured. The question for this team remains… Do you go back to the 50/50 split when Rico gets healthy? I don’t think so…

Aaron Rodgers looked like a reborn man at home with extra rest, becoming the first Steeler in history to throw for 3 TDs in 3 straight games. Rodgers at home vs. on the road looks like night and day. Going forward, this team has to find an identity on the road, as they have at home.

Germie Bernard emerged yesterday as the rookie got an extended workload with Roman Wilson dislocating his finger and Pittman being designated to IR before this game. Rodgers relied on the rookie a ton in this game, targeting him 9 times (which led the team), with Bernard reeling in 6 of those targets for 80 yards. He stepped up to the plate big time, considering the injuries and DK’s tough matchup with Sauce Gardner.

The Steelers are emerging as an elite TE room in the NFL as Mike McCarthy continues to get his TEs involved in the passing game. Muth had some words for the league, stating, “I think me and Darnell are the best TE duo in the NFL.”

I think he has a serious case there. Freiermuth looks to have reemerged as a top-end TE with McCarthy as the play-caller, and Darnell remains impossible to tackle. They are both top-end blockers in the run game as well.

Moving to the other side of the ball, I think there is something seriously wrong with the schematics of this Steelers defense. Now, the Colts’ offense is no joke, and they can move the ball. But with them missing their best WR in Alec Pierce, I think you would play a big box and stop JT (which they did a pretty good job of) and play press coverage against this Colts WR room to make Daniel Jones fit some tight-window throws.

Now, it can be debated, of course, that maybe the Steelers don’t think they have the personnel to play tight man. But I just have to say, it feels like they are giving up the underneath stuff and intermediate routes way too easily. They have to make it harder on opposing QBs going forward.

The defense did make some stands in the red zone, limiting the Colts to 5 field goals, 2 of which came inside the red zone. That was promising, as they bent but didn’t break.

Kaden Wetjen remains disappointing for a 4th-round pick as a true return specialist. He’s been limited and below average. That is looking like a bad selection if all he is is a return specialist.

The Steelers improve to 3-2 and go on the road to face a desperate Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that just had a huge win on Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys.

Tampa will be coming off extra rest, and their undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels out of Kansas, who is in for the injured Mayfield, will get the start. Daniels had his best game as a pro in his second start against Dallas, and he will look to improve on that performance.

HERE WE GO STEELERS HERE WE GO

-Flip