The Steelers By The Lake Podcast

Steelers Second Half Season Preview | The Toughest Stretch Is Coming
The Steelers have reached the bye week, and now it’s time to look ahead at what could be a season-defining second half.
James and Cody break down Pittsburgh’s remaining schedule, the biggest challenges still ahead, and the stretch that could determine whether this team is playing meaningful football deep into December.
One of the biggest talking points: the Steelers are set to play 5 games in just 30 days from November 15 through December 14. That kind of stretch can test everything — depth, health, coaching, and consistency.
We also go game-by-game through the remaining schedule:
Bengals
Eagles
Broncos
Texans
Jaguars
Ravens
Panthers
Titans
Ravens
Which games are the biggest traps? Which matchups could decide the division? And how many wins does Pittsburgh need to put itself in position for a serious playoff run?
In this episode, we discuss:
Pittsburgh’s remaining schedule
The brutal 5-games-in-30-days stretch
Toughest matchups left on the calendar
AFC North implications
Potential trap games
Where Pittsburgh has advantages
What needs to improve after the bye
Our expectations for the second half
What record Pittsburgh needs down the stretch
The first half is over. Now the schedule gets real.
Drop your prediction in the comments: What will the Steelers’ record be over the rest of the season?
Steelers football hits different By the Lake. 🖤💛

Steelers Bye Week Mid-Season Review | What’s Working, What Needs to Change
The Steelers have reached the bye week, which means it’s time for James and Cody to take a step back and evaluate where this team really stands halfway through the season.
We’re looking at the biggest positives, the areas that still need improvement, and the players who have changed the outlook of this team as Pittsburgh gets ready for the second half of the year.
One of the biggest topics is Jaylen Warren, who has played like one of the best running backs in football and has firmly put himself in the conversation as a top-5 back with the way he has impacted games.
We also talk about T.J. Watt finally looking healthy again and how obvious the difference has been when he’s able to play at full strength.
Another major surprise has been the Steelers’ rookie defenders. Robert Spears-Jennings and Daylen Everette have stepped into meaningful roles and performed far better than most people expected this early in their careers.
And offensively, we discuss one adjustment we want to see after the bye: get the tight ends more involved. Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington can create matchup problems, and Pittsburgh needs to find more ways to use them down the stretch.
In this episode:
Mid-season Steelers report card
Jaylen Warren’s elite season
Is Warren a top-5 NFL running back?
T.J. Watt finally healthy and dominating again
Robert Spears-Jennings and Daylen Everette exceeding expectations
Why Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington need more opportunities
Biggest surprises of the first half
What Pittsburgh needs to improve after the bye
What could determine the Steelers’ second-half success
The first half is in the books. Now the real question is: Does this Steelers team have what it takes to make a serious run?
Drop your mid-season MVP, biggest surprise, and biggest concern in the comments.
Steelers football hits different By the Lake. 🖤💛

Nick and James break down the highly anticipated matchup between The Steelers and division rival Browns for first place in the division! The Steelers let their play do the talking in a dominant performance to take over first place in the AFC North! How did they win and who do they have to thank? Check out this episode to find out. Go Steelers!

Browns vs Steelers Week 8 Preview | Run the Ball. Stop the Run.
The Steelers are back for another AFC North battle as they take on the Cleveland Browns in Week 8, and James and Cody are breaking down what Pittsburgh needs to do to come away with the win.
For us, this matchup starts with one major theme: control the ground game.
On offense, Pittsburgh needs to lean on Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, stay balanced, and avoid putting the entire game on the passing attack. On defense, the mission is just as important — shut down Cleveland’s rushing attack, win up front, and force the Browns into uncomfortable situations.
In this episode, we cover:
Browns vs Steelers matchup breakdown
Why Pittsburgh’s run game could decide the game
Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle’s importance
How the Steelers can slow down Cleveland on the ground
Biggest offensive and defensive matchups
Keys to victory
Injury updates
Players who need to step up
Final score predictions
AFC North games rarely come easy, and Pittsburgh knows exactly how physical Cleveland can make these matchups.
Can the Steelers establish the run, control the line of scrimmage, and keep the Browns from doing the same?
Drop your Browns vs Steelers score prediction in the comments and let us know your biggest key to victory.
Steelers football hits different By the Lake. 🖤💛

Steelers vs Saints Paris Recap | Steelers Win 16-10
The Steelers leave Paris with a 16-10 win over the New Orleans Saints, and Cody and Jill are breaking down the biggest moments from Pittsburgh’s international victory.
One of the biggest defensive plays of the game came from Payton Wilson, who came up with a huge interception and helped swing momentum back toward the Steelers. We also have to talk about Darnell Washington’s monster catch, going up over Kool-Aid McKinstry and making one of the most physical plays of the day.
In this episode, we cover:
Steelers’ 16-10 win in Paris
Payton Wilson’s interception
Darnell Washington’s huge contested catch
Biggest turning points in the game
What Pittsburgh did well defensively
Where the offense still needs to improve
Players who stepped up
Our biggest takeaways from the international matchup
It wasn’t always pretty, but Pittsburgh found a way to get the job done overseas.
Drop your biggest takeaway from the game in the comments and let us know which play stood out to you the most.
Steelers football hits different By the Lake. 🖤💛

The Steelers are headed to Paris for a unique international matchup against the New Orleans Saints. James, Cody and Jill break down everything Pittsburgh needs to do to come away with a win. We’re covering the biggest offensive and defensive matchups, injury updates, and players to watch that could decide the game overseas. We each give you our two keys to success and score predictions to wrap up the show. Go Steelers!

Steelers vs Buccaneers Week 6 Recap | Pittsburgh Wins 26-19
The Steelers come away with a 26-19 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and James, Cody, and special guest Mark from Basement Banter are breaking down everything that stood out from the game.
A big part of the conversation is the impact of Keeanu Benton and Nick Herbig, who both stepped up and made their presence felt when Pittsburgh needed it. We also dig into the moments that made this game much closer and more stressful than it probably needed to be — which led to Mark’s quote of the day:
“It didn’t have to be that way.”
We also react to some breaking Steelers news with the signing of Marquez Valdes-Scantling and what his addition could mean for the offense moving forward.
In this episode, we cover:
Steelers’ 26-19 win over Tampa Bay
Keeanu Benton’s impact
Nick Herbig continuing to make plays
Biggest turning points in the game
What Pittsburgh did well
What still needs to improve
Marquez Valdes-Scantling signing reaction
Where the Steelers stand after Week 6
Was this a strong Steelers win, or another game that became way harder than it needed to be?
Drop your biggest takeaway from the game in the comments.
Steelers football hits different By the Lake. 🖤💛

Steelers vs Buccaneers Week 6 Preview | Special Guest Basement Banter
The Steelers are back for another big matchup, and this week the full Steelers by the Lake crew is joined by special guest Basement Banter to break down Pittsburgh’s Week 6 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
James, Nick, Cody and Jill dive into the biggest matchups on both sides of the ball, what Pittsburgh needs to do offensively, where the defense can create problems for Tampa Bay, and which players could end up deciding the game.
We also get Basement Banter’s perspective on the Steelers, where this team stands right now, and what he’ll be watching for in this matchup.
On the show, we cover:
Steelers vs Buccaneers matchup breakdown
Biggest offensive and defensive matchups
Keys to victory for Pittsburgh
Players who need to step up
Injury updates
What Tampa Bay does well
Areas Pittsburgh can exploit
Score predictions from the entire crew
Special guest thoughts from Basement Banter
Can the Steelers keep building momentum and come away with a big Week 6 win?
Drop your Steelers vs Buccaneers score prediction in the comments and let us know your biggest key to victory.
Steelers football hits different By the Lake. 🖤💛
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Steelers vs Colts Week 5 Recap | Pittsburgh Wins 34-22
The Steelers get back in the win column with a 34-22 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, and James and Cody are breaking down everything that stood out from one of Pittsburgh’s more complete performances of the season.
We highlight a huge day from Jaylen Warren, who finished with 188 all-purpose yards, and a strong showing from Germie Bernard with 6 receptions for 80 yards as the Steelers offense found ways to consistently move the football and create explosive plays.
But one of the biggest storylines from this game was the play of the Steelers secondary. After trading Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys, there were plenty of questions about whether Pittsburgh had enough talent and depth left on the back end of the defense. So far, the group is beginning to answer those questions with improved communication, tighter coverage, and better overall play.
In this episode, we break down the 34-22 win, Warren’s impact on the offense, Bernard’s emergence in the passing game, the improved secondary without JPJ, what the defense did better, and whether this performance is a sign that Pittsburgh is finally starting to put things together.
The Steelers got the win — but was this the kind of performance that can actually carry over?
Drop your biggest takeaway from the game in the comments.
Steelers football hits different By the Lake. 🖤💛

Colts vs Steelers Preview | Can Pittsburgh Take Control?
The Steelers are back at home for a matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, and Cody is joined by special guest Dylan to break down everything Pittsburgh needs to do to come away with a win.
We take a look at the biggest matchups on both sides of the ball, the players who could swing the game, what the Steelers offense needs to improve, and how the defense can put pressure on Indianapolis.
We’re also getting into the latest injury updates, the areas Pittsburgh absolutely has to win, and our keys to success heading into this matchup.
On the show, we cover:
Colts vs Steelers matchup breakdown
Biggest offensive and defensive matchups
Players to watch
Injury updates
Keys to victory for Pittsburgh
What the Steelers need to improve
Final score predictions
Can Pittsburgh protect home field and build some momentum, or will Indianapolis create problems?
Drop your Colts vs Steelers score prediction in the comments.
Steelers football hits different By the Lake. 🖤💛