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The Pittsburgh Steelers are now 1-4 after Week 5 of the 2019 regular season, but how they got to this record has been a roller coaster ride. After a 33-3 drubbing by the defending champion New England Patriots, the Steelers followed it up with a close 28-26 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2 at Heinz Field. The loss was more than just another loss on the record, but the team lost Ben Roethlisberger in the process. With Mason Rudolph under center in Week 3, he was unable to lead the Steelers to victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, but did claim his first career win after beating the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football in Week 4.
How did they follow up that prime time win? With a gut-wrenching overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field in Week 5.
But before we get ahead of ourselves, it is that time of week where we check in on what other outlets are saying about the black-and-gold in those weekly Power Ranking articles. We all realize these rankings are completely meaningless, but they are great for discussion. Not just where the Steelers are ranked, but who made the Top 5 who should have, or shouldn’t have?
Check out the Power Rankings below, and be sure to let us know your thoughts on the rankings in the comment section below!
ESPN
1. New England Patriots
2. New Orleans Saints
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Green Bay Packers
5. Seattle Seahawks
6. San Francisco 49ers
7. Los Angeles Rams
8. Dallas Cowboys
9. Philadelphia Eagles
10. Buffalo Bills
...
26. Pittsburgh Steelers
“Surprise fantasy player: Diontae Johnson, WR
While JuJu Smith-Schuster has been mostly quiet as the primary focus of opposing defenses, Johnson -- a rookie -- is slowly breaking out. In Mason Rudolph’s first two starts, Johnson was targeted six times in each game and had a touchdown in both contests. When Devlin Hodges came in Sunday, he hit Johnson for a monster third-down conversion, but Johnson’s downfall will be his trouble holding on to the ball. He fumbled the third-down pass out of bounds, though it still was ruled a completion, and fumbled his first catch a week ago. -- Brooke Pryor”
CBS Sports
1. New England Patriots
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. New Orleans Saints
4. Seattle Seahawks
5. Green Bay Packers
6. Kansas City Chiefs
7. Buffalo Bills
8. Philadelphia Eagles
9. Dallas Cowboys
10. Los Angeles Rams
...
26. Pittsburgh Steelers
“They are down to a third-team quarterback and at 1-4 things sure don’t look good for this group. Is the season over? It might be soon.”
Sporting News
1. New England Patriots
2. New Orleans Saints
3. Green Bay Packers
4. Seattle Seahawks
5. Kansas City Chiefs
6. San Francisco 49ers
7. Los Angeles Rams
8. Philadelphia Eagles
9. Dallas Cowboys
10. Minnesota Vikings
...
26. Pittsburgh Steelers
“Ben Roethlisberger to Mason Rudolph to ... Devlin Hodges? The Steelers’ offense can’t catch a break even when it’s looking good and balanced again. Mike Tomlin seems safe job-wise unless he keeps making illogical decisions about overtime and “things of that nature.””
NFL.com
1. New England Patriots
2. New Orleans Saints
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. San Francisco 49ers
5. Green Bay Packers
6. Philadelphia Eagles
7. Seattle Seahawks
8. Dallas Cowboys
9. Los Angeles Rams
10. Buffalo Bills
...
26. Pittsburgh Steelers
“Another lost quarterback, another lost game in what’s fast becoming a lost season for the Steelers. A violent hit by Earl Thomas knocked Mason Rudolph out cold against the Ravens, forcing Mike Tomlin to turn to a person named Devlin Hodges. Nothing good happens when you get to your third quarterback by early October. The shame for Pittsburgh is how close it came to a win over Baltimore that would have reframed the AFC North. Had Juju Smith-Schuster not lost that fumble in overtime, the Steelers might be sitting in a three-way tie for first in the disappointing AFC North. Instead, they are two games out with an un drafted rookie free agent with the nickname “Duck” in line for a potential Week 6 start. Life’s tough, guys.”