“Why Are They Better This Year?”: Mike Tomlin Called Out for Holding Aaron Rodgers & Co. Back Amid Mike McCarthy’s Strong Start

The Ringer's Bill Simmons questioned whether former head coach Mike Tomlin held back quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers following the team's strong 6-2 start under new coach Mike McCarthy. Following Pittsburgh's 27-6 victory over the Cleveland Browns, Simmons argued on his podcast that McCarthy has successfully unlocked an effective formula by leaning on the run game and utilizing Rodgers on deep passes.

While Tomlin had previously criticized the offense on NBC following a Week 2 loss, the Steelers have since scored 24 or more points in five of their last six games. The turnaround has been powered by running back Jaylen Warren, who rushed for 143 yards against Cleveland, alongside a dominant defensive performance coordinated by Patrick Graham that yielded eight sacks against Deshaun Watson.