After three great games from the defense to start 2024, the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) have been grappling on that side of the ball of late. In the two recent losses to the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys, the Steeler’s defense gave up 803 yards and a combined 24 points in the fourth quarter.
If the Steelers are to reverse that trend and stop the bleeding after back-to-back defeats, the defense must step up in Week 6. This week, the Steelers take on the Las Vegas Raiders’ (2-3) 24th-ranked offense (297 yards per game).
Here are three key improvements they have to make to accomplish that goal.
T.J. Watt needs to dominate
Thayer Munford is the usual starter at right tackle for Las Vegas. However, he has missed the past two games with knee and ankle injuries. He was a limited practice participant on Wednesday and Thursday. The other right tackle is rookie DJ Glaze, who has allowed two sacks this season. Kolton Miller on the left side missed practice Wednesday and was limited on Thursday.
T.J. Watt needs to exploit that combination of youth and injury. He has 4.5 sacks on the season, two behind NFL leader Aidan Hutchinson (Detroit).
Sure, the Raiders will likely keep backs and tight ends to chip Watt along the way. But if Vegas’ Brock Bowers is being asked to stay in and help to block Watt — or if he is kept off the field for a different blocking tight end — that’s great news for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
With Davante Adams missing time, Bowers leads the team with 28 catches and 313 yards.
It also would not be a bad idea if the Steelers blitz more often. They have some talented blitzers at the inside linebacker position, but we haven’t seen them deployed in that capacity very much. Per Pro Football Reference, the Steelers blitz at a rate of 19.4 percent; that’s good for 28th in the NFL.
Move the chains
Unfortunately, until the Steelers can move the chains consistently, this will be a weekly theme. Just because they are facing the Raiders, who have similar struggles, doesn’t mean it gets any easier.
The Steelers have playmakers who will make plays, but they cannot count on chunk gains over the haul of a season. The more time that passes each week, it becomes all the more pressing to turn it all on. Consistently moving the chains eats up the clock, shortens the game, and gives the Steelers more control of the game flow.
Get Najee Harris going
Najee Harris has collected 270 rushing yards without a rushing touchdown (54.0 yards per game through five games). His 3.3 yards per attempt rank 46th in the league.
Harris’ 17 targets as part of the passing attack have resulted in 12 catches (2.4 per game) for 119 yards (23.8 per game) and zero touchdowns.
Against the run, the Raiders have allowed 659 rushing yards this season, ranking 22nd in the league. When it comes to rushing touchdowns allowed, they rank 10th in the NFL with four.
It’ll be important to get Harris involved in this game. Not only to take pressure off of the quarterback, but to increase the confidence of their running back going forward.
Take the training wheels off-field
With uncertainty at the quarterback position for Pittsburgh, the hope is Arthur Smith opens up the Steelers offense a bit for quarterback Justin Fields.
Fields has thrown for 961 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception this year. He averages 192.2 yards per game and 7.1 per attempt while completing 67.6percent of his passes. Meanwhile, he has tacked on 172 rushing yards (34.4 per game) and three touchdowns on the ground.
This season, Las Vegas’ defense has struggled to keep opponents out of the end zone, as it ranks 27th in the NFL with 26.2 points allowed per game. In terms of total yards, the team ranks 17th with 1,666 total yards allowed (333.2 per game).
When it comes to stopping the pass, the Raiders are middle-of-the-pack this year, ranking 15th in the NFL in passing yards allowed with 1,007 (201.4 per game).
While Fields hasn’t been able to blow teams away with his passing prowess, he needs to be able to prove he can keep the Steelers offense afloat.
