This season has been a rollercoaster season for the 2020 Pittsburgh Steelers so far. After getting off to a hot start, 11-0, they have lost their last three games against Washington, Buffalo, and Cincinnati. The offense has sputtered due to a combination of a lack of a run game and the inability to get down the field in big plays. Surefire Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger has struggled to complete long throws and is overly-reliant on short passes. While struggles have exposed some weaknesses in the 2020 Pittsburgh Steelers, the Steelers have positives working in their favor that make them a threat in the NFL Playoffs.
Don’t Count out the 2020 Pittsburgh Steelers
The #1 Defense in the NFL
As the saying goes, “defense wins championships” and throughout the entire season, up until the losing streak, the Steelers have maintained the number one ranked defense in the league. The defensive stalwarts such as TJ Watt, Cameron Hayward, and Mikah Fitzpatrick have caused havoc for offenses. Watt leads the league in sacks (13.0), sack yards (99), and yardage lost (24). The youngest of the Watt has moved out of his oldest brother’s shadow and has become one of the best linebackers in the NFL. The defense has always given the offense a chance to come back into the game when there has been a struggle. In the playoffs, the defense will be key in containing dual-threat quarterbacks like Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes.
The Duo of Mike Tomlin and Ben Roethlisberger
Mike Tomlin has coached the Steelers for 13 seasons, ranking him third among current NFL coaches. Tomlin has countless accolades; such as being the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl, six AFC North titles, eight playoffs, and 2 Super Bowl appearances. Roethlisberger has been Pittsburgh’s quarterback since entering the league, making him the longest-tenured quarterback to play with one team. Roethlisberger is the youngest quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl and trails only Tom Brady as the second youngest to win their second Super Bowl. As the Steelers’ quarterback, Ben has broken numerous franchise records; and broken some NFL records.
Tomlin and Roethlisberger won a Super Bowl in 2008. They have seen it all and have the experience to handle setbacks and hurdles that other teams haven’t. Roethlisberger’s body has taken a beating over the years and age may be catching up with him. But Ben has the situational experience to read defenses and adapt on the fly. His arm may limit him from long passes, but more utilization of a run game can help relieve that pressure. Tomlin’s experience will lead him to adapt as well and he won’ be afraid to think outside the box on if need be.
The Pressure of Going Undefeated is Gone
There is always a double-edged aspect to going undefeated for a long stretch of games. On one hand, momentum is created and cultivated by players and coaching staff feeling like they are unstoppable. A perfect record can mistakenly suggest no weaknesses, perfect chemistry, or at least give the illusion of it. That’s the danger of not suffering losses for some time; the illusion of perfection covering up warts that need to be handled. Now that the undefeated streak is gone, weaknesses that were disguised have now been exposed to be dealt with. There is also a release of pressure on the players to have to be perfect; therefore, they can focus on playing and enjoy the game once again. The expectation of winning is still there, but there is no pressure of trying to follow in the path of the 72 Miami Dolphins.
Going Forward
The three-game losing streak of the Steelers has shown some issues that need to be addressed and dealt with. However, the Steelers are a team with experienced leadership in the form of Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin, who have been through and seen numerous problems and hurdles in the past. As well, the defense of the Steelers has been excellent and kept them in every game; which is crucial for playoff success and only matched by a few teams. The focus can fully shift on improvements and fixes now that the undefeated record is no more. The Steelers still can come out of the AFC and surprise many teams and pundits.
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