Power rankings have never really been where the Pittsburgh Steelers shine, and although the team is on the climb after their Week 7 win over the New Orleans Saints, their recent placement on ESPN's new list can only be seen as disrespectful.

In ESPN's Week 8 power rankings, the Steelers, despite holding an outstanding 5-2 record, were tabbed as the No. 14 team, behind the 4-3 Baltimore Ravens (No. 13) and 3-4 Los Angeles Rams (No. 12), despite their major struggles early in 2026.

Even with Lamar Jackson, the Ravens lost to the New Orleans Saints at home, while the Rams have yet to live up to much of the hype of their huge offseason additions. The Steelers, on the other hand, have lost just two games, one to the reigning AFC champions in the New England Patriots and another to the 4-2 Browns on the road in Cleveland on a short week.

The Steelers haven't exactly faced the most difficult first-half schedule in 2026, and with plenty of strong matchups still to come, it's easy to understand ESPN's hesitancy in giving Pittsburgh a better ranking. But the Steelers boast a top-10 defense that's entering elite territory and an offense that needs just a few pieces to compete with some of the very best in the league.

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