The Pittsburgh Steelers put themselves in a great spot to win the AFC North with their Week 13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Their offense was the best it has been in years in the 44-38 victory, racking up 520 yards and punting just once.
While the defense wasn’t great by any means, they were better than the 38 points allowed would suggest (one touchdown came on a pick-six and another came while Pittsburgh sat in prevent defense late in the game). One of their standout defensive players was rookie linebacker Payton Wilson, who has shined consistently over the past month.
Wilson’s snap count has increased each of the past four games, as he has been a better schematic fit against some of the higher-powered offenses the Steelers have faced. Couple a slate of elite offenses remaining on their schedule with the level of play Wilson has showcased recently, and it’s likely Wilson will continue to see an expanded role.
Payton Wilson is Key to Steelers Defensive Success
Productive in Pass Coverage
As a rookie, Wilson is already the best coverage linebacker on Pittsburgh’s high-end defense. This should not come as a surprise given his elite sideline-to-sideline speed and high football IQ. He is quick to scope out a play and absolutely flies downhill or across the field to shut it down. Wilson really stood out in coverage against the Baltimore Ravens with a near-impossible interception and an overall lockdown day.
Payton Wilson vs the Ravens:
92.5 PFF grade
4 targets
— PFF PIT Steelers (@PFF_Steelers) November 19, 2024
Wilson playing like an elite coverage linebacker is important for two reasons. First, he is the only Steelers linebacker who can do it consistently. Elandon Roberts is great against the run but offers little against the pass, while Patrick Queen has been a complete rollercoaster in all aspects of play this season. Second, the Steelers play several offenses who will utilize their short passing game down the stretch.
They match up with the Kansas City Chiefs (who seem to throw to tight ends more than receivers) and Philadelphia Eagles, along with rematches with Baltimore and Cincinnati. All of those teams can do serious damage when throwing the ball to running backs and tight ends underneath. Further, they all have quarterbacks who can be dangerous with their legs when flushed out of the pocket. So, Wilson’s speed will be very beneficial in those instances, too.
Generating Splash Plays
While Pittsburgh is second in the NFL with 15 forced turnovers, many of their splash plays have not come from their linebackers. Their turnovers almost always come from a pass rusher securing a strip sack or a defensive back intercepting a pass. In fact, Queen and Roberts have combined for just two forced fumbles in over 1000 total snaps. Meanwhile, Payton Wilson has an interception and two fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown) in just 335 defensive snaps.
Looking at their remaining schedule, Pittsburgh’s defense will need to keep forcing turnovers. The Chiefs have been more turnover-prone than usual this year, and the Ravens always seem to give the ball away multiple times against the Steelers. They’ll need to capitalize on those mistakes, and Wilson gives them the best chance to do so.
Getting Better Each Week
Finally, Wilson is one of the major keys to Pittsburgh’s defense because he seems to get better each week. His missed tackles have come down, while his splash plays and snap counts have increased. While he was previously being utilized mostly in obvious passing situations, the Steelers are getting more comfortable playing him in any situation. Look no further than Roberts’ snap counts decreasing while Wilson’s increase; as they trust Wilson more to stop the run, Roberts will not see the field as much.
Payton Wilson’s PFF grades since the bye week:
70.1 in Week 10
92.4 in Week 11
Wilson is currently the 11th-ranked linebacker in the NFL by PFF. #Steelers
— Tommy Jaggi (@TommyJaggi) December 2, 2024
Make no mistake about it; he’s no T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward or Minkah Fitzpatrick. However, Payton Wilson has been incredibly valuable to the Steelers and is getting better as the season progresses. He is one of the best players from a very productive Pittsburgh rookie class.
His speed and instincts are the perfect tools for the Steelers to put to use in the middle of their defense. With their offense potentially back on track and the AFC being wide open, Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl hopes are still alive. And while he’s not one of their bigger names, Payton Wilson will play a critical role in turning those hopes into a reality.
Main Photo Courtesy of Joseph Maiorana – Imagn Images
The post Standout Rookie is Key to Steelers Defensive Success appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.