The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves at what would have been the quarter point of the 2021 NFL season, prior to the league adding a 17th game to the schedule. That actually looks like a positive development at the moment, because the Steelers are still searching for their identity at this early stage of the season.
The extra preseason game for the Steelers may have been beneficial for the rookies and other newcomers, but did little to hasten team chemistry with most veterans participating in only a few series, or missing precious time due to injuries. The lack of cohesion and consistency is the direct byproduct of limited experience functioning as a collective group.