Mark Madden: Steelers are juggernaut, whether they look it or not

Sunday’s 27-3 win at Jacksonville showed why the Pittsburgh Steelers, despite being 10-0, aren’t on top of all the power rankings and why they would be underdogs vs. Kansas City, even at Heinz Field.

It was unentertaining and nondescript. The Steelers stumbled through the first quarter, put the game away with a 17-point second quarter, were never in danger but weren’t overwhelming. They were efficient and businesslike. They got four takeaways. Ben Roethlisberger threw a 31-yard touchdown to Chase Claypool, putting a nail in the “can’t throw deep anymore” coffin.

But the Steelers didn’t fold, spindle or mutilate the overmatched Jaguars. It didn’t look like a team with 10 straight wins beating a team with nine straight losses, especially early.

The Steelers aren’t a stats team. They don’t get fantasy-league love. They have had a 100-yard rusher four times, but not in the last five games. They have had a 100-yard receiver just twice. (I’m no fantasy geek, but I bet Chase Claypool’s 10 touchdowns are worth something.)

The Steelers aren’t a highlight-reel team. They’re mostly steady, rarely spectacular.

Roethlisberger is having an MVP-caliber season, but he’s just not going to get the award or even recognition as a serious candidate.

The Steelers may be the only 10-0 team ever that still can sneak up on opponents. If that’s an exaggeration, it still rings just true enough.

Twitter — America’s news disseminator of record, whether we like it or not — was in a tizzy when Jacksonville led after one quarter. Ghosts of old defeats at the hands of flimsy foes were conjured. That’s typical Twitter. But even at 10-0 the Steelers aren’t often perceived as a sure thing. Talk leading up to the game tried hard to invent ways for the game to be close.

Being 10-0 is a handicap perception-wise. At 10-0, the Steelers seem slightly flawed. If they were 8-2, the nitpicking would be less. But 10-0 teams are expected to be unerringly great.

Now the Baltimore Ravens come to Heinz Field on Thanksgiving. If the Steelers win, the hype fuse gets well and truly lit.

The Steelers will win. They have Lamar Jackson figured out. The whole league does. The Ravens are reeling after losing three of four. The Steelers further will crush their playoff hopes.

The Steelers have the record of a juggernaut but not the look and feel. Some components fit that description, however.

The defensive line didn’t miss a beat after Javon Hargrave departed. At 33, Tyson Alualu dug deep. Stephon Tuitt has stayed healthy. Cam Heyward again is operating at an All-Pro level.

T.J. Watt has a Tasmanian Devil-like level of intensity and speed, so much so that he occasionally pulls himself because he’s knackered. He’s almost impossible to contain. If not for Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams, Watt would be a shoo-in for Defensive Player of the Year. (Watt had no sacks Sunday, however. Let’s hope he’s not wearing out.)

Minkah Fitzpatrick is back on song after a quiet start to the season: three interceptions in his last three games, including two at Jacksonville. No linebacker really has picked up the slack created by Devin Bush being hurt. But Fitzpatrick has done more from his safety position. (Trey Edmunds also had two picks Sunday. I’d almost forgotten he was on the team.)

Tight end Eric Ebron won’t overwhelm with stats, and he holds too much. But he’s too big for a defensive back to cover, too fast for a linebacker to cover. His presence in the middle of the field creates matchup problems that trickle down favorably to the rest of the targets.

The receiving corps might be the NFL’s best and certainly the deepest. Claypool and JuJu Smith-Schuster bring the power. Diontae Johnson and James Washington bring the speed. Johnson has two straight games of 100-plus yards. He is becoming a No.1 receiver?

As mentioned, Roethlisberger won’t be in the conversation for MVP. But he should be. If not for Patrick Mahomes’ feats, Roethlisberger would be a lock. (Except he wouldn’t.) Roethlisberger is playing stellar after major elbow surgery, but — alas — nobody made a propaganda film.

Certain elements of the team are overrated just a bit.

The defense makes splash plays but displays occasional vulnerability.

The offensive line keeps Roethlisberger clean. That’s paramount. (It may occur mostly because of Roethlisberger’s savvy.) But that line’s run-blocking is suspect.

But that’s exemplary of the nitpicking displayed earlier. The Steelers are 10-0.

Eventually, the Steelers have to win playoff games. If they don’t, the season is a total disaster. In fact, if the Steelers don’t play Kansas City in the AFC championship game, one (or both) of those teams will have disappointed mightily.