There’s A Regarding And Rising Steelers Defensive Development

Studying the headline, I do know what you’re considering. Only one? More often than not, sluggish begins could be positioned on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive aspect of the ledger. A unit that went a complete season with out a gap drive landing. A streak that lastly ended this season with a gap drive landing towards the New York Jets, adopted by a first-drive subject purpose towards the Seattle Seahawks. The offense is seemingly lastly cured. However the protection caught the identical bug, and they’re now unable to get stops early in video games.

Courting again to 2024, the Steelers have allowed factors on six of seven possessions by the opposing offense. That features factors on 5 straight, 4 of these leading to touchdowns. Right here’s the breakdown.

1. Eagles – Discipline Aim
2. Ravens – Punt
3. Chiefs – Landing
4. Bengals – Landing
5. Ravens (Wild Card) – Landing
6. Jets – Discipline Aim
7. Seahawks – Landing

4 touchdowns. Two subject targets. Thirty-four whole factors. Ugly.

To place issues in additional perspective, permitting factors on five-straight opening possessions is the NFL’s longest and worst streak within the league. Right here’s the “leaderboard.”

Longest First Possession Rating Streaks Allowed

1. Pittsburgh Steelers – 5
2. Carolina Panthers – 4
2. Tennessee Titans – 4
4. Denver Broncos – 3
4. Minnesota Vikings – 3

It’s price noting that each one three of the Broncos’ scores allowed have been subject targets, not touchdowns. With out laying out the whole desk, the Steelers predictably have additionally allowed probably the most factors relationship again to Week 15 of final season.

The rationale for Pittsburgh’s struggles is tough to outline exterior the apparent. The group isn’t enjoying properly sufficient. They don’t seem to be stopping the run, which solely weakens the go rush. They’re permitting too many conversions on third down. They’re breaking as a substitute of bending within the pink zone. Clearly, the scheme isn’t ok, and Pittsburgh is caught off guard by what offenses are doing early on with their opening scripts.

Regardless of the rationale, it’s an alarming pattern for a workforce that often got here out of the gates scorching. From Weeks 1-14, Pittsburgh allowed simply 5 scoring drives (three subject targets, two touchdowns), giving up fewer factors over that 13-game span than they’ve within the final seven. An “off” swap has been flipped on this protection, and it’s clear from the primary drive of the sport.