A lot of media attention has been focused on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ red zone offense. There is a reason for this. They have been one of the worst teams in football, too often settling for field goals instead of celebrating in the end zone. But their struggles there took the heat off the Steelers’ red zone defense. After a hot start, they faded and struggled, but received little attention.
In the last four games since the bye, opponents have gone 12-of-20 for a touchdown percentage of 85.7%. Those aren’t the same numbers as the Steelers and starting from the beginning of the year. Compare results through Pittsburgh’s first four games of the season.
Steelers Red Zone Defense
First 4 games: 36.3% (4 out of 11)
Last 4 games: 85.7% (12 out of 14)
According to TeamRankings.com, Tracking red zone defense over the past three games, the Steelers rank 31st. Only the San Francisco 49ers at 100% were worse. They ranked first in red zone defense at the beginning of the year, but fell to 15th place this season.
Opponents make a difference. None of the first four teams have lived up to the potential we currently see in Pittsburgh. Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins was rusty, Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix was a rookie, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was hobbled, and the Indianapolis Colts had their biggest success, going 3/5. The Steelers face stiffer competition after their quarterback play and overall offense.
But that’s the point. This is the caliber of teams and quarterbacks Pittsburgh will see going forward. Rematches with the Ravens and Bengals. Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. Whoever Pittsburgh makes the playoffs will likely have a good quarterback and offense. Even if it’s the Broncos or Chargers, the Steelers will be seeing a different team than they did at the beginning of the year. Nix is a much better quarterback after going through some growing pains. Perhaps Herbert will be healthy.
Pittsburgh’s struggles don’t have a large sample size. Seasons have ebbs and flows, ups and downs. But this is as much an emphasis on defense as it is on offense. If the Steelers return to the red zone take they were used to in 2023, 2024 will be off to a good start. But holding a team to a field goal would be a start.
