After seven games and playing their eighth tonight, the Pittsburgh Steelers are in a good spot. Not just because of their 5-2 record or current first-place finish in the AFC North, but because of the way they win. A defense that’s as good as any and an offense that’s decent.

That was the model to start the year with. Attainable goals. That’s what I mean when I say ‘ideal’. Of course, you’d like the Steelers to be the No. 1 offense and No. 1 defense. That’s just a dream world. What I expected, or at least hoped, this year was for Pittsburgh to have two things. A top-five scoring defense and an average scoring offense.

Here they are for seven weeks. As of Week 8, the Steelers have the No. 2 scoring defense, allowing just 14.4 points per game. Only the Los Angeles Chargers are ahead, even though Pittsburgh beat them 20-10 earlier this year. After the Chargers allowed just eight points to the New Orleans Saints, the Steelers would have to hold the New York Giants to three points or less to tie or beat them. Although the Giants have only scored ten points in the last two games combined, those chances are still slim.

But the defense was excellent this year. Not perfect, mind you. A terrible start against the Indianapolis Colts, a heartbreaking ending against the Dallas Cowboys. They’ve had communication, addressed issues and given up yards and points. It’s 2024, not 1974, and expecting perfect game shutouts is just not realistic. Pittsburgh keeps points off the board and wedges itself into the red zone remarkably quickly. That’s the most important thing. There is talent at all three levels and no real weakness in any group. D-line, linebackers and secondary, every group is solid or better. Schematically, the Steelers excel at taking your best player and forcing other guys to win. Sometimes they do, like the Cowboys’ backup receivers, and you tip your cap. However, most of the time they don’t.

The violation? Not as Good. Clearly. It’s not a scathing criticism. This Steelers defense was expected to be the strength of the team. But entering the week, the offense was literally average, the 16th-ranked scoring unit at 23 points per game. That number has been increased by a pair of 30 points in the last two games. Russell Wilson showed the next step this offense can climb to, but if the Steelers can score even 23 points per game for the rest of the season, that will be a great finish.

Going into the year, a target of 21 or 22 points per game felt like an achievable target, a big step up from the 17-18 points they averaged season after season. To rise above that and rise with an improved running game and big play ability, Wilson lives up to the Steelers’ expectations.

Combine the offense and defense with strong and stable special teams and you have the recipe to get over the hump. To win a play-off match. I’m not ready to declare this team a Super Bowl contender just yet, but if you play in the Divisional Round, you’ll be in the final eight. Who knows what happens from there. All that matters is the present. And right now I like Pittsburgh.