Steelers by the numbers

by Bo Marchionte
Published September 12th, 2023, 07:49 AM

The Steelers were embarrassed in Week 1. Acrisure Stadium had an influx of red-and-gold that nearly equaled the black-and-gold attire of the Pittsburgh faithful.

“We got kicked in the teeth today in a lot of ways,” Mike Tomlin said following the 30-7 loss in San Francisco.

The promising preseason offensive showing along with a defense that looked poised to harass and humiliate 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, disappeared as Pittsburgh fell into their bad habits of last season which led to a dismal 1-4 start.

Pittsburgh hosts the red-hot Cleveland Browns on Monday at home which is a pivotal Week 2 match-up for survival for the Steelers. The Steelers will be without 34-year-old team captain Cam Heyward (groin) and receiver Diontae Johnson (hamstring) for the AFC North showdown.

Each week we’ll look at five critical numbers to pay attention to that can lead to Pittsburgh winning or losing.

24

Najee Harris finished the game with six carries for 31-yards. One of those carries went for 24-yards, which is significantly important, at least to me. Last year, Harris finished fifth in the league with 272 carries. He had one run that exceeded 20-plus yards. In Week 1 against a great defense, he was able to find some daylight in the running game. However, the rest of his five carries totaled seven yards, so the result is mixed. Nonetheless, the Steelers need big plays and if Harris can provide more of those types of runs it helps improve a passing game lacking the deep ball.

2

Quarterback Kenny Pickett threw just one interception over his last eight games of his rookie season. In the preseason he looked like a blossoming superstar in the waiting. Then Week 1 one happened, and he fell into the old habits of his rookie year, that led to two interceptions against San Francisco. Pickett finished his rookie season with nine picks, and drastically cut down on his mistake’s midseason of 2022. Pittsburgh can’t afford a slow start and interception prone throws if they wish to avoid a slow start.

5

That’s the average yard gained per pass by the Steelers offense in Week 1. It currently ranks as the 27th worst average in the National Football League. It places the emphasis again on Matt Canada’s system and getting the football up field.

188

The total number of rushing yards allowed by Pittsburgh rush defense against the 49ers potent running attack led by Christian McCaffrey, who finished with 152 yards on the ground. It marked his highest rushing output as a Niner and marked the third highest total in his six-year NFL career.

3

Is the number of sacks T.J. Watt had in Week 1. He provided one of the few glimmering hopes of dignity against the 49ers, if cheering for the Steelers is something you hold sacred. The NFL’s former Defensive Player of the Year in 2021, looks primed to lead the league in sacks for the third time in his career. Finishing the day with five tackles, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery along with the three sacks, Watt is in midseason form heading into Week 2.

Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com