The Pittsburgh Steelers have an offensive identity crisis, and a single stat exposes the root of the problem, according to NFL analyst Rich Eisen. During the 2025 season, the Steelers had a 11% explosive play rate on dropback passes, ranking 26th in the NFL. While veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers retains the arm talent to stretch defenses, Pittsburgh's passing attack consistently lacked dynamic chunk plays. Addressing the unit’s stagnant footprint on “The Rich Eisen Show,” the host questioned where the offensive spark will come from moving forward. "Can the Steelers offense be explosive? Can they be explosive? That's the question," Eisen posed. "I don't think the offense last year wasn't explosive because Rodgers' arm can't deliver the football. They just didn't have the explosive players."
Much of that burden falls on star wideout DK Metcalf, whose efficiency sparked fierce debate. Despite posting 59 catches, 850 receiving yards, and six touchdowns, critics argue the physical receiver failed to consistently stretch the field as expected. "It feels like DK's best days are behind him," Eisen’s cohost Chris Brockman noted. "For a guy you gave all that money to, you need more than 59 catches. He had two 100-yard games last year." Eisen pushed back, emphasizing that Metcalf's elite physical profile remains intact: "I know it's not like it's over. He had that one game where he took one to the house and I'm like, 'That's the DK. That was explosive.'" To cure their vertical drought, Pittsburgh added veteran target Michael Pittman Jr. and drafted University of Alabama standout Germie Bernard. However, secondary additions mean little if Metcalf cannot regain his game-breaking form. For Mike McCarthy's offense to contend, turning those 11% intermediate pass concepts into downfield strikes isn't just a preference; it's a requirement. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: The one stat proving why the Steelers passing attack stalled in 2025