Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy may want to change the balance of his offense after a dramatic comeback win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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“I’d like to run the ball more,” McCarthy said, as reported by Mike DeFabo. The comment is worth watching because Pittsburgh has shown efficiency on the ground without consistently making its rushing attack a major part of the game plan.
The Steelers rank among the NFL’s top 10 teams in yards per carry but sit near the bottom five in rushing attempts. Two teams below Pittsburgh have played fewer games, which adds context to those rankings. Still, the contrast suggests the Steelers could give their running backs more opportunities.
Aaron Rodgers Could Throw Less as Jaylen Warren Takes on More Work
McCarthy said that he'd like to run the ball more
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) October 19, 2026
Rodgers delivered another comeback against Tampa Bay, helping Pittsburgh overcome a 16-3 fourth-quarter deficit to win 26-19 in overtime. He finished with 253 passing yards, two touchdowns, and an interception on 33-of-49 passing.
Although Rodgers showed he can lead the offense under pressure, Pittsburgh could benefit from asking him to throw less often. More rushing attempts would give opposing defenses another threat to respect, potentially creating better passing opportunities when the Steelers do put the ball in the air.
Jaylen Warren could become a bigger part of that adjustment. Giving Warren more carries could help Pittsburgh establish a steadier ground game instead of leaning so heavily on Rodgers to move the offense. A more consistent rushing attack could also help the Steelers control the tempo and keep their offense balanced.
Warren’s workload, however, will be important to monitor. With Rico Dowdle back in the mix, Pittsburgh has another option to share the carries. Dowdle rushed seven times for 40 yards against Tampa Bay, averaging 5.7 yards per carry.
A stronger rotation could help keep Warren fresh while allowing McCarthy to increase the team’s rushing volume. It would also give opposing defenses more to consider before focusing on Rodgers and the passing game.
McCarthy’s comments do not necessarily signal a reduced role for Rodgers. Instead, they suggest Pittsburgh could make its offense less predictable. If the Steelers turn their rushing efficiency into more consistent volume, Warren could get more opportunities while Rodgers carries less of the passing burden.
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