Good luck scoring on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second half.
Over the last four weeks, no team has managed to put a touchdown on the board after halftime against this defense. Patrick Graham’s unit is suffocating opponents when games are on the line.
Pittsburgh’s Run Defense Is the Best in Football
The Steelers’ defense is allowing just 19.7 points per game, fifth in the NFL, after improving to 5-2 with a 16-10 win over New Orleans. In the aforementioned four-game stretch, they are 3-1, winning the last two games by one score.
According to PFF, the Steelers currently have the highest-graded run defense. The Steelers’ run defense also ranks first in yards before contact, allowing just 0.7 yards per carry before contacting an opposing rusher.
Outside of stats, the defense is just outright playing very well. The Saints may only have two wins, but they were averaging over 24 points per game. Pittsburgh held them to 10.
Three weeks ago against a streaky Indianapolis Colts offense, the Steelers led by just four at halftime. They would hold the Colts to just three field goals in the second half, going on to win by double digits.
Week 6 against Tampa Bay followed the same script. Pittsburgh went into the break down 13-3 and allowed just six second-half points, helping them come back and win. The Steelers forced two interceptions in the fourth quarter and won on a Jalen Ramsey sack.
The Defense Is Covering for an Offense That’s Missing Key Pieces
In the NFL, teams cannot win football games on one side of the ball consistently. The Steelers offense has been fine, but inconsistent in part due to injuries. Two starting wide receivers, Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson, both currently sit on injured reserve. But the defense has been what has allowed them to win five of their first seven games.
The offense is doing enough to win. That said, the season could look very different without this defense.
Even in both losses, the defense arguably played well enough to win. They held the New England Patriots to 20 points and the Cleveland Browns to 27 points, with offensive turnovers being a key issue. In the second halves of these games, they held Cleveland to six points and New England to 10.
The defense is playing confidently and consistently. In Graham’s first year as defensive coordinator, he’s brought back the identity Pittsburgh fans have always believed in: defense wins championships. For another year, the Steelers have the highest-paid defense in the NFL, and are finally playing up to the price tag the franchise has invested.
Graham has been calling a great game on defense, bringing pressure and dropping back at the right times. In back-to-back weeks, the Steelers have had crucial sacks from Ramsey and Patrick Queen to help propel the team to victory.
The Browns Rematch Could Decide the AFC North
The back end of the Steelers’ schedule is rough. They have the second hardest remaining strength of schedule. They will play Cincinnati again, Denver, Jacksonville, and Baltimore twice, just to name a few tough matchups.
Most importantly, the Steelers play the Cleveland Browns again November 1st. Each team sits at 5-2, and the Browns currently own the first-place tiebreaker in the AFC North. The last time the Steelers played the Browns, the defense went viral after sideline arguments were caught on camera.
This should be motivation enough. The Steelers defense has played outstandingly since this game nearly a month ago. This game was the reason Graham moved down from the booth to the sideline. Pittsburgh has not lost a home regular season game to the Browns since 2003.
This defense could carry Pittsburgh deep into January. If the offense gets healthy, this defense gives Pittsburgh a floor most teams don’t have.
Leave a comment