Category: Pittsburgh Steelers

When you think about the Steelers’ defense in recent years, T.J. Watt’s name will almost inevitably spring to mind. The 30-year-old former Defensive Player of the Year has proven time and again that he is an elite player who can change a game on any given snap.

Already eight years into his NFL career, Watt has surpassed all expectations as the 30th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. He has been named to four first-team All-Pro teams and an additional second-team while amassing 108 sacks in his career. That total has surpassed every player in Steelers for the most in franchise history, passing former Pittsburgh great James Harrison.

However, that record doesn’t fully capture his influence on Pittsburgh’s defense. Consider Watt’s role in altering how offensive lines plan their strategy or how his presence creates gaps for teammates to exploit. You might wonder how Watt’s adaptability and the constant threat he’s posed have reshaped the Steelers’ defensive approach. How does one player’s impact ripple through an entire team?

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The foundation of the Steelers defense

The Steelers are 1-10 all-time without Watt in the lineup during the regular season, highlighting how important of a contributor he is to the team’s future. That’s why Pittsburgh needs to continue using Watt as the cornerstone of their defense and build around him.

Despite what Pro Football Focus may say, Watt could very well be the best edge rusher in the league. While his sack totals took a dip in 2024, there’s no taking away his defensive dominance and impact on team performance. Achieving 462 total tackles with 331 solo showcases Watt’s substantial individual contribution to the Steelers’ defense.

Watt’s ability to shift momentum significantly is second to none. With 33 forced fumbles, 126 tackles-for-loss, and an additional 225 quarterback hits, it’s hard to argue that any other individual player is as valuable to their team as Watt is to the Steelers.

This offseason, the Steelers need to adapt their defensive strategies to exploit Watt’s strengths and complicate their opponents’ offensive plans, to enhance their overall defensive performance. He has consistently shown an ability to influence the outcome of games, which corresponds to the Steelers winning record when he’s healthy and on the field.

For those interested in wagering, T.J. Watt player odds are available on various platforms like FanDuel, with the odds reflecting his impactful performances.

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Sacks and defensive dominance

Few numbers in the NFL are as impressive as T.J. Watt’s ability to sack the quarterback. On October 6, 2024, during a game against the Dallas Cowboys he achieved the milestone of recording his 100th career sack, making him the second-fastest player in NFL history to do so, accomplishing it in just 109 games. (Hall of Famer Reggie White is the only player to have amassed 100 sacks faster, having done so in 96 games.)

In 2021, Watt tied Michael Strahan for the NFL single season record with 22.5 sacks. Watt has also consistently led the league in sacks multiple times. While he’s a ways off from Bruce Smith’s all-time record of 200 sacks, Watt is closing in on the top spot of active players. T.J. is currently sixth among active pros, trailing current leader Von Miller (129.5) while still outpacing 2017 NFL Draft rival and defensive force Myles Garrett (who has 102.5 sacks to Watt’s 108.)

Like many of the greats, Watt’s dominance forces opposing offenses to become one-dimensional. Also, being the most frequently double-teamed player in the league is testament to his enormous threat level, providing opportunities for teammates to excel.

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Prolific force in creating turnovers

In the domain of NFL defense, disruption is the name of the game, and T.J. Watt excels at creating turnovers. He’s got an incredible knack for being where the ball is and making pivotal plays.

In Ben Roethlisberger’s final game as a pro, Watt was the only player to score in the first quarter – that’s within the context of a defensive player scoring the only game’s only points up against the nearly unstoppable Kansas City Chiefs. Pittsburgh needs to do more to help Watt create these type of splash plays, however.

One of the smarter moves the Steelers have made in recent years is making sure there are other bodies who can help rush the quarterback so opponents can’t key in on only stopping Watt. Along those who have blossomed opposite T.J. over the last few seasons include Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig. Highsmith has been able to tally 35.5 sacks in five seasons while Herbig, as a backup, has been fireplug with 8.5 sacks in only five starts over a two-year span.

Watt was instrumental in helping the Steelers tie for the league lead in turnovers in 2024, but following a late season defensive collapse, it feels as if there’s more the organization can do to leverage Watt’s playmaking abilities.

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Overcoming scheme challenges

Opposing teams often devote multiple blockers to neutralize Watt. At times, the Steelers have countered by moving Watt across various alignments, creating mismatches and leveraging his agility. Strategic NFL game matchups on FanDuel often highlight these key defensive battles, showcasing how elite pass rushers like Watt can shift the momentum of a game.

Using different formations, Pittsburgh is able to exploit weaknesses in opponents’ blocking schemes. Still, you might notice that weaknesses in the Steelers’ run defense and their reliance on a few key players can limit Watt’s overall impact. By addressing these issues and enhancing consistency across the defensive line, they can further elevate Watt’s effectiveness.

Defensive captain Cameron Heyward is one of the league’s best defensive linemen. He will turn 36 in May, leaving questions as to how much – and much longer – the ageless wonder can continue to produce.

Pittsburgh can take a page from the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles this offseason by building out their defensive line. The veteran Larry Ogunjobi is a steady constant, while promising young defensive tackle Keeanu Benton could be the next great Steelers lineman. Those are building blocks that could help take opposing offensive linemen out of the equation to free up Watt, so it’s certainly an area of the roster that GM Omar Kahn should focus on this offseason.

The Eagles were also able to abuse opposing offenses after locking down their secondary with two rookie cornerbacks, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. In a copycat league, the Steelers should eye the possibility of finding compliments to Joey Porter Jr., who was often bookended with an inconsistent Donte Jackson and inexperienced Cory Trice. The nickel corner position was also inconsistent, with undrafted Beanie Bishop creating enough splash plays to merit consideration for the starting role, but veteran Cameron Sutton (who returned to Pittsburgh after being released by the Lions due to off-field issues) struggled following his return from an eight-game suspension.

A potential high-level addition or two on the defensive side could break everything open for the Steelers to attack teams like the Chiefs, just as the Eagles did. You’ve seen how T.J. Watt’s relentless pursuit has transformed the Steelers’ defense into a formidable force. With over 100 sacks under his belt, he’s not just a game-changer; he’s a game dominator.

What’s intriguing is his knack for drawing double teams, which doesn’t just spotlight his prowess but also opens up plays for his teammates. Watt’s versatility and relentless drive make him a pivotal factor in the Steelers’ defensive success, ensuring they’re always a step ahead. As such, the team shouldn’t focus on only offense this offseason, but look to place a few more pieces on the defense around Watt to boost their chances of success.

The Steelers’ defensive identity should continue to be built around T.J. Watt appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Steel City Underground takes fans back in time to feature events, special moments, and historical times and players in the world of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Steelers Nation. Join us in our “Steelers Throwback Thursday” series as we revisit these moments.

One of the most memorable moments in NFL playoffs history is also one of the most painful memories for Steelers Nation.

A supposed team of destiny that was starting to show signs of age, the Pittsburgh Steelers had won Super Bowl XL and Super Bowl XLIII before making another trip to the big game after the 2010 NFL season. The Steelers would fall in Super Bowl XLV to the Green Bay Packers, in a close 31-25 contest.

The fallout from that season fueled the fire for what looked like a team that was ready to make a repeat appearance and avenge their loss from one year earlier. The 2011 Pittsburgh Steelers would finish the regular season 12-4 but in second place in the AFC North. The Baltimore Ravens, who were also 12-4, held the tiebreaker over their rivals by sweeping them 2-0.

This meant instead of hosting a home playoff game, the Steelers would have to travel during the Wild Card round. Their opponent? The streaky-hot Denver Broncos, who captured a bottle of lightning by installing Tim Tebow as their starting quarterback after beginning the season 1-4. Tebow would turn the team around, winning his first start in overtime: a recurring theme for Denver who would win three of their regular season games in overtime as Tebow led them on a 7-1 record as their starter.

However, the Broncos were fortunate to make the postseason as they slid into a three-game losing streak to end the season, finishing 8-8 in a three-way time in the AFC West with the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders. Despite their lower record, Denver would host a postseason game due to winning their division.

Sports Authority Field at Mile High would be the backdrop for the Sunday afternoon clash that many felt would be a cakewalk for the Steelers, as they coasted into the postseason by sitting players for rest as early as two weeks before the Wild Card date.

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However, there were still some concerns for Pittsburgh as the Steelers weren’t at full strength entering the game. Star running back Rashard Mendenhall was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury sustained during the next-to-last game against the St. Louis Rams. (In which QB Charlie Batch started for the Steelers, as the team rested several other starters during Week 15.)

Safety Ryan Clark is the most famous of the absent players from the Steelers-Broncos game due to what would transpire as it unfolded. Clark, who has sickle cell disease, could not participate in the Mile High atmosphere.

Due to the nature of Denver’s close, one-score wins and making the playoffs by the skin of their teeth, they weren’t expected to match Pittsburgh’s top-ranked defense, which was first in the league in points, yards, first downs allows and most importantly, the best against the pass. Broncos QB Tim Tebow was far from a prolific pro passer, completing only 46.5% of his passes throughout the regular season, and ending his year with games of 185 yards passing (1 touchdown, 3 interceptions) against the Buffalo Bills and going 6-of-22 for 60 yards with a pick against the Chiefs.

The Steelers had only allowed one opponent to score more than 20 points on them all season: the Baltimore Ravens. (Who did it twice, both Steelers losses.)

Also setting the stage for this high stakes game was a new set of NFL overtime rules. Up until this point in league history, the first team to score would win in sudden death fashion. However, the 2011 playoffs changed the luck of winning the coin toss and kicking a field goal for victory to allow for both teams to possess the ball in OT.

There was one caveat: the first team to score a touchdown wins immediately. If the first team scores a field goal, the other team would still get a chance to possess the ball. Do note, the rules have been modified further since 2011 for both the regular season and postseason. If you want to know more about the overtime rules, head over to sportslimitless.com where it is perfectly explained.

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It almost seems scripted that a game that shouldn’t have been close was tight as could be. The Steelers opened up the scoring with two Shaun Suisham field goals, but Tebow would throw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Royal to see the Broncos take a 7-6 lead. A Tebow rushing touchdown, followed by two Matt Prater field goals to close the half would see Denver take a 20-6 lead as the third quarter kicked off.

The Steelers would march back into the game, first with a Mike Wallace touchdown run, and then the two teams trading field goals before Ben Roethlisberger connected with Jerricho Cotchery for a 31-yard TD strike that would knot the game at 23-all.

That’s where the game would end in regulation, as the two sides met in the middle of the field with the Broncos winning the coin toss and electing to receive the ball first. What happened next is a story for the ages that still lives in the nightmares of Steelers fans.

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The television commentary explained the new overtime procedures, but almost as quickly as they affirmed the game would end on a touchdown, it did.

With Ryan Clark absent, the Broncos took advantage of backup safety Ryan Mundy and some miscommunication on first down. According to NFL.com’s 100 Greatest Plays:

On the first play of overtime, from the Pittsburgh 20, the left-handed Tebow faked a handoff, reared back and threw a nice ball down the middle to an open wide receiver, Demaryius Thomas. Thomas stiff-armed a would-be tackler and then used some remarkable speed to outrun two Steelers for an 80-yard TD and a 29-23 victory.

Never in NFL history had an OT period been so brief; for Tebow, who completed less than half of his passes during his very short career, the game was his best-ever: he threw for 316 yards. None of that magic carried over to the next game, however, as Tebow and the Broncos got trounced at New England, 45 to 10.

While Tebow would last one more season as an off-and-on starter in the NFL, the game would also be a meaningful turning point for the Steelers. Mendenhall would never return to form his injury. Pittsburgh’s wide receiver group would also be dismantled, as this was the last game Hines Ward played in before retirement and Mike Wallace would holdout for a contract he would never receive in the following offseason, leaving the Steelers one year later.

Several changes would occur on defense too, James Farrior retired. Casey Hampton would follow him one year later, while James Harrison would be released following contract disputes after the 2012 season. LaMarr Woodley, a large contributor to the defensive success, carried his 2011 injury-plagued season into two more and never played a full season with Pittsburgh again.

Others would trail off in the coming years, marking this loss as a major pivot point in Steelers history as a historic Super Bowl 43 defense in 2008, considered by many to be one of the best ever, could’ve been eclipsed by this 2011 version. However, the Broncos played an unlikely foil that still leaves a bad taste in the mouths of Steelers fans who are still waiting for that return trip to the big game.

Throwback Thursday: Broncos stun Steelers in first overtime under new rules appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Steel City Underground presents our 2024 Steelers Recall: a look back at Pittsburgh Steelers games and storylines from last season.

The beginning of the 2024 NFL offseason began eerily similar to how the 2025 season is unfolding. The rumors and speculation were all the wilder, and the Pittsburgh Steelers found themselves searching for similar answers following an early exit from the playoffs.

Let’s take a look back, roughly one year ago, to what we were seeing, hearing, and looking forward to as the new league year approached.

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Buffalo Playoff Loss

Steelers Nation was left scrambling after a miraculous three-game win streak to finish the season saw the team fizzle in the snowy conditions in Buffalo, New York.

The Wild Card game, which was pushed back to a Monday 4:30 PM ET kickoff time due to blizzard conditions in Buffalo, was memorable if only for the fans who had to dig snow out of their seats at Highmark Stadium.

For the Steelers, the 31-17 loss left more questions than answers. One year prior, Pittsburgh missed the postseason entirely, so a return to the playoffs was a step in the right direction. The 2022 team had finished 9-8, so a 10-7 finish and playoff berth was welcome, but echoed a lot of the same “Tomlin winning seasons” negativity from a fanbase wanting more.

However, this wasn’t the squad to provide “more” in defeat. The Steelers’ starting lineup was a shell of their expected players from the beginning of the season. Third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph led the offense, while the defense was minus its most important player, T.J. Watt. The team had also been making a go of it without two of their top inside linebackers, who also called plays on D: Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander, each of whom was placed on IR in the second half of the season.

In their place, several backups played significant time on that side of the ball, including Markus Golden, MyKal Walker, Eric Rowe, and Myles Jack. This led to Buffalo having their way with a Steelers team that couldn’t contain their opponent’s offense while also struggling with turnovers when they had the ball.

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Watt Loses DPOY

As confirmed in previous seasons, the NFL Honors show should be called a clown show, as many of the award winners appeared undeserving. The irony is, looking back to 2023, many felt that Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson didn’t deserve the MVP award over his peers. Now in 2024, Jackson had a better season than his MVP one and was a runner up.

The same hypocrisy was on display with the Defensive Player of the Year award, which was spoiled an hour before the announcement by Steelers LB T.J. Watt. Watt, who led the league in sacks and was a first-team All-Pro was the runner up to Browns DE Myles Garrett.

It’s more or less that Garrett’s statistics since beating the Steelers on November 19th, 2023 were unrecognizable, than Watt undeserving. In seven games, including one playoff appearance, Garrett had a single sack, a single pass deflection, and no fumbles forced or recovered. He had seven total QB hits, but those came in two lopsided games against the the Jaguars and Jets, without reaching the quarterback whatsoever in the other five.

It’s hard to imagine what the writers or voters saw in Garrett over Watt. The decision was one of several that tarnished the Honors as a legitimate awards show rather than a popularity contest. The league continues to explore ways to keep fans connected between the conference championships and Super Bowl, but has come up short. That has left some fans exploring other forms of entertainment during these non-game days. For instance, a popular diversion is trying out the Big Bass Bonanza demo on Slotcatalog.com, which offers a lighthearted break without detracting from the main excitement. This casual gaming option can add variety to the experience, provided it is enjoyed responsibly and in moderation.

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Hiring an Offensive Coordinator

The Browns loss wasn’t only a turning point for Myles Garrett’s season either, as the Steelers front office made an unprecedented decision to relieve a coach midseason. The struggle to gain a first down and an opportunity to kick a winning field goal against Cleveland cost offensive coordinator Matt Canada his job.

In the interim, quarterback coach Mike Sullivan (a former NFL OC himself) and running backs coach Eddie Faulkner took the reigns as co-offensive coordinators. Going forward into 2024, however, both assistants would be retained but ultimately not promoted to Canada’s vacant position.

The Steelers wasted no time in finding a suitor, hiring recently fired Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith. Smith had previously served as the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator before accepting a head coaching gig, but would now return to a similar role he found success in at Tennessee. The hope would be Smith could run an offense that would take pressure off of whomever the Steelers quarterback would be in 2024…

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Starting Quarterback

The quarterback rumors started as quickly as the clock ticked zero in Buffalo, as Steelers fans pondered the future of the team.

The 2023 season started to deteriorate when Kenny Pickett was knocked out of a game in Week 13 against a two-win Arizona Cardinals team. In his place, backup Mitchell Trubisky struggled, as the Steeler stumbled to the two-win New England Patriots and then the Indianapolis Colts. Trubisky would be benched for 2018 third round draft pick, Mason Rudolph, who continued to hang around the team as a familiar face that was never given any full opportunities following a tumultuous 2019 season in which he played in 10 games.

Fast forward to 2023 and Rudolph sparked the Steelers to a major comeback, scoring over 30 points in consecutive games (the only two all season) and a three-game run that landed the team in the playoffs.

Rudolph was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March, but the bigger rumors lurking around the team was that Kenny Pickett “quit” near the end of the season and was inactive because he was unwilling to sit behind Mason. Further complicating matters, the Steelers released Trubisky in February to avoid a substantial cap charge, while speculation of acquiring the recently released Denver Broncos QB Russell Wilson, or former first round pick and Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields, ramped up.

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Offensive Line

Despite moving up to draft Broderick Jones in the first round, the Steelers offensive line still struggled throughout the season. Fans watched as Jones played out of position, covering the right tackle spot due to necessity, rather than taking (and upgrading) the left tackle position held by Dan Moore.

Low and bad snaps were also a major issue from center Mason Cole, who was also released in mid-February ahead of free agency. Center would be a major focal point of the team’s offseason efforts in addition to finding more help along the rest of the offensive line.

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Secondary

Another glaring hole on the Steelers depth chart as free agency and the draft would loom in the background was their secondary. The cornerback room was soon to be barren, as 33-year-old CB Patrick Peterson carried a $9,775,000 salary cap hit for the 2024 season.

Part time starting CB Levi Wallace, slot corner Chandon Sullivan, and reserve/specialist James Pierre were all on expiring contracts as well, leaving second-year players Joey Porter Jr. and Corey Trice remaining as potential options: and Trice missed all of the 2023 season on IR.

The safety position was also a revolving door in 2023, as Minkah Fitzpatrick missed ample amounts of time, as did others, including Damontae Kazee and Keanu Neal. Trenton Thompson and Elijah Riley were called up from the practice squad, but also fell to injuries, leaving the team to scamper for street free agent and veteran Eric Rowe to pick up the slack.

Needless to say, defensive backs would be another point of emphasis for the Steelers as they prioritized their offseason needs.

 

Join us next week as we take a look at the start of free agency and the moves the Steelers made nearly a year ago to improve their roster and attempt to field a contender.

2024 Steelers Season Recall: The offseason begins appeared first on Steel City Underground.

The rivalry between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens is considered one of the NFL’s most intense and hard-fought contests. Although some observers might argue that regional pride or coaching philosophies drive this clash, likely, a combination of historical context, game-day intensity, and evolving team identities has cemented its role in defining the AFC North. With each matchup, the rivalry not only influences the outcomes of individual games but also shapes the competitive narrative of the division as a whole.

Despite the Baltimore Ravens finishing 12-5 and winning the AFC North in 2024, it may surprise many that the Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t too far away from competing. The 10-7 Steelers had destiny slip from their hands when the two teams met in Week 16. At the time, the Ravens held a 9-5 record and the Steelers held a 10-5 record. The head-to-head matchup decided the division, but the series has been largely lopsided, save for the Ravens winning this year’s postseason rubber match.

Going back to 2020, the Steelers hold an 8-2 record against the Ravens during the regular season. Incidentally, this is the last season the Steelers won their division: but can they close the gap and do it again in 2025?

Let’s compare the two sides and see if the gap between them is that far apart.

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Coaching

Coaching philosophies have historically played a crucial role in defining this rivalry. That’s easy to identify as Mike Tomlin has led the Steelers for 18 seasons and John Harbaugh has led the Ravens for 17 seasons. The two head coaches are trending toward having the most head-to-head matchups of any NFL coaches in league history.

While Tomlin has yet to produce a losing season, Harbaugh has had a more recent trend of success, appearing in five postseason games in the last three years with two victories.

The comparisons are close than you’d think, however. Though Tomlin has been “one and done” in four appearances since 2018, Harbaugh has gone 3-6 with one AFC Championship game appearance. Going back one decade, Tomlin closes in on Harbaugh’s performance as the latter was on the hot seat before transitioning to QB Lamar Jackson as the starter. Harbaugh’s 3-6 record in six postseasons rivals that of Tomlin’s 3-7 record in seven postseasons.

Oddly enough, the Steelers still lead almost all of the series history categories over the Ravens including all-time record (36-27), home record (21-12), and playoff record (3-1). The Steelers away record with the Ravens is tied at 15-all. Tomlin also holds a close edge over Harbaugh in the regular season with a 19-15 record.

Needless to say the two coaches are nearly mirror images of one another with long tenures and a history of success.

Advantage: Push

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Quarterbacks

Lamar Jackson has won two league MVPs and nearly won another in 2024 after throwing a career-high 41 touchdown passes and pass attempts, while only throwing four interceptions.

The Steelers have been going through a quarterback carousel as of late, starting their fourth and fifth passers since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement following the 2021 season. Both of 2024’s starters, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, are not under contract for 2025.

Advantage: Ravens

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Running Backs

Derrick Henry proved to be a huge signing for the Ravens, rushing for 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2024. However, Henry turned 31 in January, which is an age that NFL running backs start to trail off on the stat sheet.

Like Henry, Steelers RB Najee Harris is an Alabama product that has appeared to have a slow start in the league. Yet, Harris has had four consecutive seasons with 1,000 or more yards: it took Henry three seasons to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark and a fourth to be named a Pro Bowler.

Harris turns 27 in March, but isn’t under contract to the Steelers. His backup, Jaylen Warren, is more of a complete back ready to become the starter than the Ravens have in reserve. Yet, the nod here has to go to Baltimore simply because Henry is an unmatched force that hasn’t showed any signs of slowing down, while the Steelers will have to address re-signing either of their backs for next season.

Advantage: Ravens

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Pass Catchers

Zay Flowers is a great draft selection from the Ravens as is George Pickens for the Steelers. Both players numbers to-date trend favorably with one another, making them a fair comparison. However, the depth behind both is questionable at best for either side, leaving this comparison a stalemate.

Mark Andrews had an off year despite catching 11 touchdowns. His dropped pass in the playoffs sent Baltimore home. The seven-year vet has put up larger numbers in the past, but his 673 yards just nudges Pittsburgh’s Pat Freiermuth, who had 653 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Both teams have promising young second options, including Isaiah Likely and Darnell Washington. Likely should give the Ravens the edge, but Washington is the better blocker. Among the pass catchers, one key addition could put either side over the other, but in total neither has a definitive advantage.

Advantage: Push

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Offensive Line

This may surprise many, but the Steelers may not be far off from the Ravens production, the latter of which relied on rookie Roger Rosengarten’s performance. Rosengarten’s college teammate, Troy Fautanu, barely saw the field this year for Pittsburgh: if he can play at a high level, the Steelers offensive line woes may be mostly solved (especially if Broderick Jones performs better as a left tackle than he has on the right for the last two seasons.)

It would be easy to say the Steelers have more question marks than the Ravens, but that’s untrue as Baltimore’s Ronnie Stanley could enter free agency this offseason. In the center of the line, Tyler Linderbaum is narrowly trailed by Steelers rookie Zach Frazier in PFF’s center ratings. Comparing the other interior linemen, Pittsburgh’s Isaac Seumalo, has given up three sacks in the last two seasons on the way to being named to his first Pro Bowl.

Patrick Mekari could be another free agent casualty for the Ravens, while the massive Daniel Faalele may be the only guard left standing if Ben Cleveland (who has been named in some off-field speculation) also leaves this offseason.

The Ravens get the nod here for Linderbaum and Stanley, but again, the Steelers may not be far off from matching Baltimore’s line.

Advantage: Push

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Defensive Line

Nnamdi Madubuike and Cameron Heyward highlight each side’s three-man base front, with Heyward edging Madubuike’s 6.5 sacks in 2024 with 8 total. Like my thoughts on Henry and age above, Heyward is up there (he’s 35 going on 36) but has shown no signs of slowing down.

The remaining players on both sides get the job done, but neither set of defensive line rotations is flashy or has a clear advantage over one another. I really want to give the Steelers the nod here due to Heyward currently being one of, if not the best at his position, but the remaining talent leaves this a stalemate.

Advantage: Push

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Linebackers

This will be a contentious group, as the Steelers feature T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith up against Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh on the outside, with Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, and Elandon Roberts matched up against Roquan Smith, Malik Harrison, and Trenton Simpson on the inside.

Van Noy and Oweh each had double-digit sacks in 2024, while Watt and Highsmith trailed off their previous seasons. Smith and Queen, former teammates, are frequently compared with one another, both made the Pro Bowl. (Queen was an alternate.) Van Noy also made the Pro Bowl, but Smith was an All-Pro too.

Watt, a former Defensive Player of the Year who was a finalist for the award again in 2024, was All-Pro second team. It’s another group that can go either way, varying on who’s opinion you listen to, but the Steelers are neck-and-neck again. I’d give the nod to the Steelers, just for Watt’s intangibles and Van Noy’s accelerated age.

Advantage: Steelers

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Secondary

Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey both made the AP’s All-Pro team, but the Steelers Minkah Fitzpatrick was absent from this accolade in 2024. However, Fitzpatrick is a former three-time All-Pro, while both Ravens are two-time honorees.

Joey Porter Jr. is ascending as a lockdown corner in the NFL, but lacks the talent around him. The counterparts at the safety position are also subjective, while the Steelers are in worse shape to field a compliment opposite Porter than the Ravens are opposite Humphrey.

Advantage: Ravens

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Special Teams

2024 is the year Chris Boswell passed Justin Tucker for league-wide notoriety. Boswell was named an All-Pro for the first time in his career.

The Ravens failed to have any returner score a touchdown, while the Steelers managed one with Calvin Austin. Steelers special teams ace Miles Killebrew was named to his second-straight Pro Bowl in 2024 as well, giving Pittsburgh a definitive nod in this category.

Advantage: Steelers

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Conclusion

The AFC North is arguably one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL, characterized by its physical style of play, passionate fan bases, and a legacy of championship-caliber teams. The Steelers and Ravens have led that charge for years, and while Baltimore has the edge in several categories, this offseason could further close the gap between the two franchises.

For the Ravens, they will have to focus on their offensive line and continue to replenish the defense. Wide receiver continues to be an area they will want to target to surround Lamar Jackson with more weapons.

The Steelers are in a similar boat, as the offensive line could be on the cusp of turning around, if healthy. Receiver is a similar need for a team lacking weapons, but the larger question mark remains who will throw the ball to those players. Until that key position is answered, the advantage in the division will continue to lean in the Ravens favor and their two-time MVP.

How far apart are the Steelers and Ravens from another AFC North title? appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Steel City Underground presents a post-2024 NFL season re-evaluation of each positional group on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster in this series, highlighting the standout player or players among each group.

The Steelers placed greater emphasis on the effectiveness of their defensive front, especially in being more dominant in stopping the run of late. They didn’t make major personnel changes prior to the season, adding just two new players to the positional group. They did extend a contract to the senior-most team captain.

2024 Roster: Cameron Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Larry Ogunjobi, Dean Lowry, Montravius Adams, Isaiahh Loudermilk, DeMarvin Leal, Logan Lee

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Heyward takes top D-line honors

2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year Cameron Heyward was given a contract extension ahead of the season despite a 2023 regular season that saw him deal with injuries. At 35, many expected Heyward to merely be a placeholder. Instead, he was the most dominant player on the defensive line.

In fact, Heyward proved he had more than enough gas left in the tank as he led all defensive linemen in the NFL and earned his fourth first-team All-Pro award by putting together 71 tackles (12 for a loss of yardage), 20 quarterback hits, 8.0 sacks, and 11 pass defenses.

One could argue that Heyward was the soul of the Pittsburgh defense in 2024. Last season was one of the best of his career. When Heyward was in the game (71 percent of all defensive snaps), the Steelers limited opponents to a 3.7 yards per carry average compared to 5.1 when he was not.

If we were handing out grades, Heyward would easily earn an “A” for his performance and value.

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Rounding out the rest of the D-line

Although all but Logan Lee – a sixth round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft that sat the entirety of the season due to a calf injury – saw play, Keeanu Benton – in his second season – was most complimentary to Heyward’s play. With a slightly increased snap count, Benton was able to apply pressure from the nose tackle position.

Benton wasn’t a sack machine – earning just 1.0 for the season – but his ability to get off of blocks and record 11 pressures and 8 quarterback hits created opportunities for a Steelers defense that wanted to disrupt, take advantage of turnovers, and dominate possible.

Ogunjobi missed two games due to injury. Due to Benton’s play, Ogunjobi was on the field less in 2024, and recorded just 1.5 sacks, 41 combined tackles, 5 tackles for a loss, and 7 QB hits.

Lowry, a free agent addition for 2024, made a couple splash plays for Pittsburgh, but played just 21 percent of defensive snaps. He was overshadowed by Montravius Adams and Loudermilk, with Adams having the best season of the trio. Adams had 14 tackles (two for a loss of yardage) in 11 games, and 1.0 sacks.

Because Leal split time between the line and outside linebacker, his numbers took a hit. That was especially true after he sustained a neck injury early in the season that kept him sidelined after Week 5.

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Overall re-evaluation

The defensive line has depth concerns following a season that wasn’t exactly exceptional. In fact, outside of Heyward, the line was  middle of the pack when compared to other NFL teams. When games needed to be won in the trenches, the Steelers saw themselves bullied by bigger offensive lines.

Loudermilk is a free agent and may be on his way out the door in order to free up a spot for the Steelers to either add a draft selection in 2025 or younger, bolder free agent acquisition. He may not be the only player who exits if Pittsburgh is serious about building a defensive line for their future.

Re-evaluation: One Steeler stood out on defensive line appeared first on Steel City Underground.