It didn't end the way they wanted it to, other than with T.J. Watt emerging as Superman in overtime, with Chris Boswell remaining the Iceman when called upon with a game there for the taking (twice), and with a victory ultimately being secured that, the mathematics of a 17-game season aside, they had to have.
The Steelers weren't exactly celebrating having "improved" to 3-3 via Sunday night's 23-20 outlasting of Seattle, but they weren't apologizing, either.
Emerging with some much-needed self-awareness may yet prove as significant as crawling back to .500 entering the bye in the wake of a 1-3 start was critical.
"We just kept battling," defensive tackle Cam Heyward exhaled. "It's not always pretty.
"We know we're not a perfect team but who says we have to be perfect?
"Just gotta get the Ws."
The Steelers got one on Sunday night even though they blew a 14-0, second-half lead.
Even though they allowed 126 yards rushing on 22 carries in the second half.
Even though they gave up a field goal on the last play of regulation.
Even though they went three-and-out on their first possession of overtime.
All of that stuff often gets a team beat.
All of it occurring in the same game and you still win the game?
That's a tribute to resilience more than it is a revelation of imperfection.
That, at least, is a good way for the Steelers to embrace their current circumstances, which could be better but could also be much worse than 3-3 through six games with a timely opportunity to re-set at hand thanks to the upcoming bye.
Game action photos from the Steelers' Week 6 game against the Seattle Seahawks at Heinz Field