The Pittsburgh Steelers are trending in the wrong direction ahead of the 2024 NFL playoffs. They are now 10-6 after starting the season 10-3. Their three straight losses aren’t inherently an indicator the skies are falling. They’ve lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, and Kansas City Chiefs in consecutive weeks, three teams with top-five odds to win the Super Bowl according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Pittsburgh’s biggest problem is that they were completely uncompetitive in all three losses. Among other major issues, the Steelers will need to pick it up in the red zone on both sides of the ball if they want any chance of making noise in the postseason.
Steelers Red Zone Struggles Top of Mind Ahead of Playoffs
Defense Has Fallen Apart
The Steelers defense has been underwhelming (to put it mildly) during their three-game losing streak, especially in the red zone. Pittsburgh’s red zone struggles date back to their Week 9 bye. Since then, they have allowed opponents to convert 70% of their red zone trips into touchdowns. For reference, only the Dallas Cowboys have allowed higher than a 70% red zone conversion rate on the season.
Steelers red zone defense since the bye:
Opponents finding the end zone 21 of 30 drives. That’s 70%. Unacceptable. #Steelers
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) December 25, 2024
There seem to be a host of problems contributing to the Steelers defensive red zone struggles recently. For starters, their communication has been an absolute disaster. Every week they have multiple coverage busts where no defender is within ten yards of an opposing pass catcher. Against high-quality opponents, perfect defense might not be enough to get stops in the red zone. But blown coverages are open invitations for other teams to beat Pittsburgh in embarrassing fashion.
The Steelers vaunted pass rush needs to do more in the red zone, too. Their defensive front has been one of the league’s best this year, but one wouldn’t know that if they only watched Pittsburgh over the past month. They registered just two quarterback hits and no sacks against the Chiefs. Sure, Patrick Mahomes is the league’s best quarterback at avoiding pressure. But other than C.J. Stroud, the other AFC playoff quarterbacks are elite at escaping pass rushers, too. Couple communication breakdowns with four seconds for opposing quarterbacks to throw, and it’s no wonder why the Steelers defense can’t get a red zone stop.
Offense Past the Point of No Return
Defensively, there’s a chance the Steelers turn it around in the red zone because they showed earlier in the season they can be stout in that area. Offensively, though, there seems to be no hope for Pittsburgh to turn it around. Their red zone offense has been a complete and utter mess all season. They have the number 31 red zone offense in 2024, leading only the 3-13 New York Giants. Amazingly, the Steelers are actually worse in the red zone this year than they were last year. Under Matt Canada and Kenny Pickett, they were ranked 27th. Yes, they have found a way to get worse when they were almost at rock bottom to start.
There is plenty of blame to go around for the Steelers miserable red zone offense, but Arthur Smith deserves the bulk of it. The scheme in the red zone is dreadful. Players run routes basically on top of each other, there’s no spacing, and the run scheme always finds a way to get blown up near the goal line. Further, while the Steelers aren’t loaded with talent at the skill positions, they have solid red zone options. 6’7″ tight end Darnell Washington, George Pickens, and Pat Freiermuth can all contribute deep in opposing territory.
Russell Wilson hasn’t helped in recent weeks with his boneheaded turnovers in the red zone. But Pittsburgh’s problems have persisted all season long; they aren’t unique to the last three games. Smith deserves most of the blame, and if the Steelers continue to spin their wheels in the red zone through the postseason, it should affect Smith’s job security into next year.
Main Image: Eric Hartline – USA Today Sports
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