Mike Tomlin saw his Pittsburgh Steelers win three of four games in October.
Pittsburgh won three straight matchups versus the Broncos, Seahawks, and Browns to improve to 4-3.
RELATED: Joe Montana says he would have taken Mac Jones if he were the 49ers
The reason for its recent success is featuring a first-round running back more. Najee Harris got selected at No. 24 overall of the NFL Draft in April by the Steelers. Pittsburgh wanted to return to a power running game and take pressure off its aging quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. After a slow start in two games, Harris showed Steeler fans his versatility as a receiver.
He totaled 14 catches for 102 receiving yards in week three against the Bengals. Despite a loss, the rookie from Alabama would start a trend of three strong performances. The Steelers lost their first game in October to the Packers; however, Harris was a problem for the Denver Broncos defense. He posted his first 100-yard rushing outing, collecting 122 yards with one touchdown on 23 carries. Harris averaged 5.3 yards per rushing attempt and helped Pittsburgh to a 27-19 victory. The black and gold faced Seattle next, and Harris was instrumental. He had 24 carries for 81 yards rushing in a 23-20 overtime win for the Steelers.
Pittsburgh did not have a pretty matchup with Cleveland, but Harris totaled 100+ scrimmage yards.
He tallied 91 yards rushing, 29 yards receiving, and one touchdown. The 6-foot-1, 232-pounder touched the ball 29 times, and it allowed the Steelers to gain a 15-10 victory. With his efforts in October, Harris earned NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month honors.
Joining some good company 💪 pic.twitter.com/6VKkA3KlKx
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 4, 2021
He joined Roethlisberger (Oct. 2004) and Heath Miller (Oct. 2005) as the third Steeler to win the award. Despite being a rookie, Harris is fourth in the NFL for carries (128) and 11th for rushing yards (471).
He will lead Pittsburgh against the Chicago Bears this week at Heinz Field.
*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber-only content!*
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
