The Pittsburgh Steelers may be 6-3, coming off a big win against the Packers, and entrenched in the playoff race, but the team could be much better. 

Both sides of the ball have their strengths and weaknesses as every team does, but these five players will need strong finishes to the season if they want to stick around in Pittsburgh. 

And even after a big game, that includes a future first-ballot Hall of Famer:

RT Chuks Okorafor

#Steelers RT Chuks Okorafor may have lost his starting job due to some comments, but the way Broderick Jones and this run game is working, his benching may become permanent.

Jaylen Warren puts Pittsburgh up 14-7. #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/jt7y4jBWfy

— Rob Gregson (@NFL_Rob) November 12, 2023

Okorafor just signed an extension last season, is the second highest-paid player on offense, and is an above-average starter at a key position. 

But I don't think it's a coincidence that the Steelers run game has exploded since Broderick Jones took over his spot on the line, even if it was because of a behavioral issue. 

It would be insane to go back to Okorafor after the recent success of Jones and the team as a whole since his insertion into the lineup, so Okorafor can scratch and claw, but his fight may already be over. 

CB Levi Wallace 

Levi Wallace is not an NFL-caliber cornerback. pic.twitter.com/hcaGdWJIlD

— Tommy Jaggi (@TommyJaggi) November 13, 2023

The caption on the tweet is a little harsh, but Wallace has certainly struggled this year, and Sunday against the Packers was no different.

Joey Porter Jr. has already taken over as the starting corner opposite Pat Pete, meaning the rest of the season will be pivotal for Wallace to stick not only in Pittsburgh but in the league. 

C Mason Cole

Center continues to be a position Steelers must upgrade next offseason (as it should have been this offseason). Mason Cole got walked back all night and the Raiders don’t even have pass rushing DTs. Ugly pic.twitter.com/yBueOqLpB4

— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) September 26, 2023

Cole has struggled this year in pass protection after being solid for much of the year in 2022. His ability to create push in the run game has been notable the past few weeks, but losing reps in pass protection, especially from an interior alignment is a surefire way to get fired as a center, meaning he will need a strong second half. 

S Keanu Neal

Here is the huge play from Pat Pete that resulted in a #Packers turnover. Keanu Neal comes up with the INT, big was injured on the return. #Steelers lead 23-19 ahead of the 2 min warning. pic.twitter.com/vJYYpaBBEv

— Rob Gregson (@NFL_Rob) November 12, 2023

Neal may have caught this game-changing INT vs the Packers on Sunday, but he has struggled both in pass coverage and the run game for much of the year, evidenced by the fact that the interception on that play was only the 4th in his eight-year career.

The good news for Neal, is that if he continues to make plays like these down the stretch, he may stick around in Pittsburgh. 

CB Patrick Peterson

The man who is responsible for the above interception, Peterson has actually been solid for Pittsburgh in my opinion, and is a great voice in the locker room seeing as he is a future Hall of Famer. 

The problem is, Pittsburgh will likely target corner as their number one need in this year's draft, especially with Peterson going into the final year of his contract. 

So I don't see Pittsburgh cutting bait with Pat Pete, but he would have to work wonders to give Pittsburgh the confidence they can go elsewhere with their first pick in April. 

NFL Playoff Picture: Steelers get a big boost after Week 10

Here is how things are looking heading into Week 11