What had been baby steps for the Steelers offensive line in terms of progress turned into great leap forward in last Sunday's 27-19 victory over the Broncos.
Now, the task at hand if for the Steelers to have a command performance this Sunday night at Heinz Field when they host the Seahawks (2-3).
The line paved the way for Najee Harris to post his first career 100-yard game and the first by a Steelers running back since James Conner ran for 101 yards in a 38-7 win over the Browns Oct. 18 of last year.
The Steelers (2-3) don't want to go another full calendar year without another 100-yard rushing effort, especially not after a slow start.
"To me, Sunday’s performance was about growth and development, things we’ve been working on and then coming together, coming to fruition in a stadium," Mike Tomlin said Tuesday. "We’ve been working hard to develop cohesion in our offensive front. It manifested itself in terms of an efficient run game."
The Steelers produced 147 yards in the running game -- more than twice what they had been averaging thus far -- against a Denver defense that entered the game in the top 10 in rushing defense. That pulled the Steelers out of last place in the NFL in rushing at 73.6 yards per game -- the Dolphins at 70.4 yards are worse -- but there's still work to be done.
The rushing yards were their most since Week 3 of last season against the Texans. But now the message is a simple one ... do it again. Of course, that was the message to the line coming out of a 27-17 loss two weeks ago at Green Bay when the Steelers felt they saw some signs of life in their rushing attack -- albeit with too few carries to matter.
Tomlin and offensive coordinator Matt Canada challenged the young offensive line to build off that performance. Now, they'll be tasked with showing they can capably continue on that trajectory.
"I think that was the discussion we were having a week ago," Tomlin said. "I know you guys didn’t believe me, but I felt that way a week ago. Last week was kind of that discussion. This week is a continuation of last week’s discussion."
Also part of the discussion this week could be the potential return of presumptive starting right tackle Zach Banner. When training camp opened, Chuks Okorafor and Banner were the respective starters at left and right tackle. But Banner, who was returning from a torn ACL, needed additional time to return at the start of the season and was placed on injured reserve.
The Steelers designated him for return two weeks ago, giving them a 21-day window in which to activate him to the 53-man roster or keep him on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. That window ends next Tuesday, and Banner said last week that he's ready to go.
"I want to play. I'm ready to play," Banner said.
When the Steelers were struggling earlier in the season in both protection and running the ball, getting Banner back and inserting him back into the lineup at right tackle seemed a given. After all, he had beaten out Okorafor in training camp last season for that spot before tearing his ACL.
But Okorafor just pitched a shutout last week in a matchup against future Hall of Fame edge rusher Von Miller, and rookie fourth-round draft pick Dan Moore more than held his own at left tackle as the Steelers also allowed just one sack and two quarterback hits against Denver.
Tomlin isn't going to lose any sleep over adding another healthy offensive lineman to the mix.
"I’m not going to make it a negative that we have more than five capable men who are ready and capable of playing winning football. It’s not a negative. We’ll manage it," Tomlin said. "It will be a pleasure to manage. I’d rather have six than to have four. We’re excited about getting him back in the fold and having him be a viable option for us, whatever that may mean in terms of managing the group individually and collectively."
They might have even bought an extra week to ensure Banner is completely healthy. Had the line again struggled against the Broncos, there might have been additional pressure to get Banner back onto the field.
Now, however, facing a Seattle defense that is 31st in stopping the run, allowing 145.2 yards rushing per game, and last in total defense, allowing 450.8 yards per game, the Steelers might be more inclined to let things play out through the bye week.
That would allow the young line, which includes two rookie starters in Moore and center Kendrick Green, to continue to grow as a group.
"We were able to do some things in the running game that are our desired personality," Tomlin said. "We need to continue to grow in those areas, specifically, the cohesion-based things, eliminating negativity that’s created by unblocked people and a variety of reasons, to minimize penalties in that area. Penalties are drive killers. Penalties put you behind the sticks and make you one dimensional. All are things we have had issues with through the early portions of the season.
"To be able to take a step in that area is significant. Now, how do we springboard that into consistency in that area?"
That's the next part of the equation and something the Steelers are interested in seeing moving forward.