2024 NFL Three-And-Outs Via Week 14

Third downs are clearly an important component of profitable offenses. The Pittsburgh Steelers have fared properly general, rating twelfth within the NFL in changing third downs in all conditions. Points creep up at occasions although, like early in Week 14 sport towards the Cleveland Browns.

Pittsburgh’s offense began 0-for-5 on third down, together with 4 three and outs. Right this moment, I wished to have a look at that component of play in 2024, and see how the Steelers have fared compared to the remainder of the NFL.

First, listed here are complete success charges on three and out drives this season (kneels, and aborted/penalty performs excluded):

Right here we see Pittsburgh’s offense ranks ninth league-wide on the season, with a 13.5 success fee on three and out drives. For context, the perfect fee is the incredible third down offense within the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at 17.1-percent. Extraordinarily robust problem on Pittsburgh’s schedule in Week 17.

The start of the Cleveland sport was painful to look at by way of Steelers lenses, however the Browns have suffered that extra with rank dead-last on the season. A miniscule bump up at thirty first is Pittsburgh’s subsequent opponent in Philadelphia. So, issues have gone poorly general for them on three and out drives, whereas Pittsburgh’s offense has had success regardless of these drives ending abruptly.

This results in some optimism, seeing a possible that issues may enhance in Week 15 and past if they’ll capitalize on these third downs.

Let’s add some situational context by down:

• 1st Down 3-And-Out Success Charges = six yards, or >= 40-percent of the wanted yardage.
• 2nd Down 3-And-Out Success Charges = six yards, or >= 50-percent of the wanted yardage.

In undesirable three and out conditions, the success charges by down reveal necessary context. Pittsburgh has a 31.1-percent first down success fee that ranks properly at eleventh. Lands barely above the imply as a result of Atlanta Falcons “breaking” the chart with a whopping 52.2 first down success fee, and second-best Chiefs touchdown just below 40-percent. Wow.

The Steelers end result was shocking to be taught, contemplating Pittsburgh ties for absolutely the worst 35.8 success fee on all first downs within the NFL. Shockingly, that hasn’t been the case on three and out drives.

Second down has been proper at common, with a 23.3-percent success fee that ranks sixteenth. So, the general problem for the Steelers on three and out drives has been progressively worse outcomes on every growing down.

It’s additionally fascinating to see the place remaining opponents are robust – KC (each downs), CIN (second down), and the Eagles substantial struggles in every.

I used to be additionally curious to have a look at sport half outcomes, so here’s a chart of three and out success charges by half this season (second half consists of time beyond regulation):

The visible illustrates Week 14’s tough begin with 4 three and out drives was an outlier general. In 2024, first halves have been the higher mark, with a 16.5-percent success fee that ranks fifth. One other surprisingly robust lead to first halves on lower than supreme three and out drives, contemplating gradual begin struggles general for Pittsburgh, a problem for fairly a while.

Atlanta breaks the chart once more in first halves, at a formidable 33.3-percent success fee, in comparison with the second place Titans at 19.1 %, and the Browns are the Browns at dead-last (6.8).

Although the Steelers general offense tends to step up in second halves general, their three and out drives spiral uncontrolled as compared. That rank drops all the best way all the way down to twenty seventh after halftime, at an 8.7-percent success fee.

That’s the place the Chiefs step up, with a league-best 18.1 success fee, taking part in properly general even when the drives finally fizzle out. Pittsburgh’s subsequent opponent, Philadelphia, lands on the opposite finish of the spectrum. Absolutely the-worst success fee (5-percent) on second half three and out drives, in comparison with the Steelers at twenty seventh. Could possibly be an enormous issue within the Week 15 consequence.

Including to the Steelers ache is faltering on second down after halftime, with a lowly 5.9-percent success fee on three and out drives in second halves that ranks thirtieth, in comparison with twentieth on first downs. Cleansing this up ought to be highest on the radar of hopeful enhancements the remainder of 2024.

The subsequent visible provides context to the totality of three and out performs this 12 months. The bar is complete performs on three and out drives, orange sq. is first down successes, crimson sq. equals second down successes, and the dots are complete profitable performs on three and out drives:

A number of telling information. For starters, The Steelers have the Thirteenth-most three and out makes an attempt within the NFL at 178, in comparison with Denver’s league-leading 214, and the Falcons least at 94 (the one crew below 100). The remaining groups on Pittsburgh’s schedule have the sting in avoiding three and outs extra: KC (129, T-Seventh), BAL (130, ninth), CIN (138, eleventh), and PHI (145, 14th).

The squares present amount of profitable performs. 14 first down successes are fifth-most, whereas ten second down performs ties for sixth. However, avoiding the scenario is the final word aim, so seeing the excessive complete numbers re-emphasizes that problem wants resolving.

The circles remind us of Pittsburgh’s robust ninth ranked complete success fee. So, a silver lining is that every one performs on three and out drives haven’t been catastrophic, however a crescendo of points on a down and half foundation.

There’s undoubtedly room for enchancment by way of amount and avoiding quick drives in comparison with the remainder of the NFL as properly. This will surely assist Pittsburgh’s efforts in maintaining with the entire robust opposing offenses they’re set to face. Hopefully that’s the case the final 4 video games of 2024.

I hope you loved gaining the readability on the first points on three and out drives for Pittsburgh’s offense as a lot as I did, and hopefully we see enhancements in the important thing areas that may assist them lengthen much more drives to shut 2024.

Right here’s a desk of the info to wrap a bow on all of it: