The Pittsburgh Steelers going into Sunday’s game were 2-6, bottom in the NFL in offensive and defensive rankings, and had no signs of life. The win against the New Orleans Saints was a full team effort that showed a recipe for how to succeed moving forward. Has the Pittsburgh ball club taken a step forward or was this a flash in the pan?
READ MORE: Steelers Running Attack Leads the Way
Pittsburgh Steelers Season Still Alive Thanks to Week 10 Win
The Good
The defensive showing by the Steelers was better than any other game this year. While a flock of pigeons filled the field, it felt like the Steelers had new life with T.J. Watt back from injury. The Steelers defense held the Saints to ten points, less than 200 passing yards and a whopping 29 rushing yards. The game had some foreshadowing in the first series for New Orleans. New Orleans first and ten from their own ten was met with two T.J. Watt tackles and a short completion. While Watt did not show up in the box score with any flashy stats, his presence was felt with multiple double and triple teams throughout the game. This freed up Alex Highsmith and the rest of the defense to have their way with a porous offensive line.
On top of the Saints inability to move the ball, the Steelers dominated the turnover battle. An early interception off of Andy Dalton led to the Steelers taking an early lead. Andy Dalton struggled the whole day to get anything going, and Pittsburgh was able to capitalize with their second most points on the season. Pittsburgh’s turnover margin has been a deciding factor in their final standings, 13th in 2021 and 9th in 2020. Both of those years the Steelers made the playoffs. If this game is an indicator of things to come, their turnover margin could be on the rise.
The Bad
The Steelers still have a painfully underwhelming offense. Their 20 points on the day were good for the team, but for the league that is not up to par. If the Steelers scored 20 every week, they would still be well below the average for the league. 24th to be exact. If the Steelers want to compete in the AFC North, they will need to put up more points on offense while still keeping this defensive output.
The Steelers Offensive line looked… better. Najee Harris’ yards per carry were up compared to his yearly average, and Kenny Pickett looked less like a man running for his life. The line was still losing the battle at the line of scrimmage, but were bailed out often by the defense. Looking ahead, the Steelers cannot compete with the Von Miller’s of the world with this offensive front.
The Ugly
The ugliest part of this whole game is the Steelers outlook. Their path to the playoffs is pretty cut and dry. The Steelers have to win all but one or two games or they are lost in the middle of the standings. At 3-6, the Steelers are closer to the number one pick than they are to a playoff berth. Pittsburgh cannot afford to look ahead in the standings race, because they are so far out of it that it would dishearten the club.
The Way Ahead
The Steelers are at a cross roads. On one hand, a playoff berth for the rookie quarterback could provide lasting learning for the team. On the other hand, this roster is depleted and needs help at almost every position. After enduring the absolute gauntlet the Steelers played through, their remaining strength of schedule is 27th in the NFL according to tankathon. With that in mind, the Steelers should send it. Stability helps the growth of a young quarterback, and coaches are being called out to be fired. The Steelers are turning it around. This win keeps the Steelers hopes alive, but the schedule will be the final judge on the season.
