Friday, October 23, 2020

Pittsburgh Steelers Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2020 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Pittsburgh Steelers rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 2.6 (3rd)
  • Best ranking: 1st (CBS Sports)
  • Worst ranking: 5th (The Athletic)

Below you will find a Week 7 roundup for the Steelers in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.

The Athletic -- Rank: 5

Nice pre-snap disguise on a key early play from the Steelers. They lined up with two deep safeties, but Minkah Fitzpatrick dropped down as a robber or a rat once the ball was snapped. His job was to read Baker Mayfield's eyes, and Mayfield never saw him coming. The result was a pick-six.

This was a dominant performance by a Steelers defense that ranks second in EPA per snap. Pittsburgh and Tennessee meet Sunday in a battle of the AFC's last remaining undefeated teams.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 1

They were dominant against the Browns, but now they face a tough turnaround with a road game against the Titans. They might be the most complete team in the AFC right now.

USA Today -- Rank: 2

What's more impressive? WR Chase Claypool thrusting himself into offensive rookie of the year consideration -- he now has six TDs in five games -- or garnering a sweet nickname befitting a Canadian native? You gotta love ... "Mapletron."

ESPN -- Rank: 3

Most impactful injury: LB Devin Bush

The Steelers' most recent injury is the one they could least afford. Inside linebacker is the thinnest position on the team, and Bush played every snap before he tore his ACL in the second quarter of Sunday's win against the Browns. Backup Robert Spillane, who played one defensive snap entering the season, took over for Bush and wore the defensive headset for the rest of the game. Spillane is slated to wear the headset going forward and take over Bush's snaps. The Steelers expressed confidence in Spillane, but facing unbeaten Tennessee and impressive running back Derrick Henry this week will be a significant test. -- Brooke Pryor

NFL.com -- Rank: 2

It's all coming together for the Steelers, now 5-0 for the second time in franchise history. Pittsburgh posterized the Browns at Heinz Field in a 38-7 drubbing that was every bit as one-sided as the final score indicates. The Steelers neutralized the Browns' running game and dared Cleveland to win on the right arm of a banged-up Baker Mayfield. It wasn't a fair fight, typified by the Minkah Fitzpatrick pick-six in the first quarter that set the tone for the afternoon. The only bad news on Sunday? Linebacker Devin Bush -- who had played every snap for Pittsburgh's defense this season -- tore his ACL and is done for the year. A tough loss for the front seven.

+ Previous update: Pittsburgh Steelers Week 6 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

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