That's Steelers Football

It hasn’t been pretty, but the Steelers are 8-0 for the first time in franchise history

by Brendan Smith, Sports O'Clock Writing Team Member

Ben Roethlisberger (7) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) celebrate a touchdown (photo credits: USA Today Sports)

In a game that was expected to be a blowout victory by nearly every football analyst and fan, the Pittsburgh Steelers found themselves down in the 4th quarter against the Dallas Cowboys by a score of 19-15 on Sunday. The Cowboys, who were starting their fourth quarterback this season in Garrett Gilbert, were poised to take a commanding lead and potentially pull off the upset of the season. But it did not work out that way. Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick intercepted a Gilbert pass in the endzone which led to a Steelers field goal, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw the game-winning touchdown pass after yet another crucial defensive stop.

It was not pretty on offense, defense, or special teams, but the Steelers won the game and improved their record to 8-0 for the first time in franchise history. That has been the story of the Steelers all season: they are not flashy and do not score style points, but they play physical football and come up with the big plays when the game is on the line. That is the definition of Steelers football under head coach Mike Tomlin.

Tomlin deserves a lot of credit for the way the Steelers have performed this year. The Steelers were written off by many analysts, particularly Colin Cowherd of FOX Sports, as being past their best before the season began even though Tomlin led the Steelers to an 8-8 record the previous season with lackluster quarterback production. The Steelers have already matched their win total of last season, and Tomlin’s mantra of “next man up” has helped the Steelers overcome key injuries to linebacker Devin Bush and offensive lineman David DeCastro. Tomlin is working with arguably the best team he has had during his career in Pittsburgh, but he has gotten help from the return of his best player: Roethlisberger.

What a season “Big Ben” is having. Through the first eight games, Roethlisberger has completed over 68 percent of his passes and thrown 18 touchdowns. Roethlisberger, like the Steelers, was written off by many who did not expect him to fully recover from a season-ending elbow injury the previous year. They were partially right: we have not seen the old Roethlisberger who extends plays and makes big throws downfield. However, the post-injury Roethlisberger might be even better. Roethlisberger has taken an average of 2.27 seconds to release the ball, which is the fastest release in the NFL this season. When that stat is combined with the athletic ability of the Steelers receivers, it makes for an offense that has been incredibly efficient and scores points when called upon.

While Roethlisberger has revived the Steelers offense, the defense is still as fearsome as ever. TJ Watt and Bud Dupree continue to scare the daylights out of opposing quarterbacks with their pass rushing ability, while defensive end Stephon Tuitt has become one of the best at the position by tallying six sacks through eight games. The secondary has gotten back to their best form in recent weeks, particularly Fitzpatrick and his ball-hawking ability.

Outside of making big plays, the Steelers defense has refused to break this year. They have given up their fair share of big plays and high yardage totals, but they have not let a lead slip away. On Sunday, the Cowboys had a chance to win the game in the final minutes, much like the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans in the weeks prior. But just like before, the Steelers defense clamped down and made the critical play to end the game and preserve the win.

The Steelers are not the most entertaining team to watch. That designation goes to the Kansas City Chiefs, who are still the de facto best team in the AFC. However, unlike the Chiefs, the Steelers are 8-0 and they are 8-0 for a reason. They have gotten there with physical defensive play and efficient offensive play. It isn’t pretty, but it gets results. The Steelers probably will not finish the season with a perfect record, but they have shown the rest of the NFL that they should be feared again. That is Steelers football.

(Statistics taken from Pro-Football-Reference.com)

(All photos are cited properly. No copyright infringement intended.)