The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently 7-5, putting them in second place in the AFC North.
For a team that was supposed to be rebuilding heading into the year, being in the playoff hunt is a result that was not expected of them by most of the NFL population.
While they have outperformed expectations thus far, there is still room for this team to grow.
Cam Heyward is one of the team’s most significant leaders, an impactful figure within their locker room and on their defense.
He recently spoke after their loss to the Arizona Cardinals, a conversation shared via reporter Brooke Pryor.
Heyward talked about how the Steelers need to keep their focus in some of their biggest games, adding, “Penalties were out of control.”
Cam Heyward emphasized the role the Steelers penalties and self-inflicted wounds played in Sunday's loss to the Cardinals:
"I think it comes down to execution in those games, staying focused. Whe penalties were out of control. Offense, defense, special teams, defense…
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) December 5, 2023
If this team wants to make a playoff run down the stretch, as Heyward pointed out, they will need to make a few changes.
The Steelers have five regular season games left, meaning they have five more opportunities to improve their standing in the playoff race.
Three of those games are against teams that would currently be in the playoffs, and the Cincinnati Bengals are surging.
If small mistakes continue to bog down this team, particularly in penalties, the Steelers could quickly find themselves on the outside looking in.
This is the point in the season where teams need to put their best foot forward.
Any losses in the back half of the year could be the difference between a playoff berth and watching the postseason from the sidelines.
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