When Ben Roethlisberger went down with a season-ending injury, it seemed like the Pittsburgh Steelers postseason hopes were early before they ever began. However, they have found a winning formula behind an improved defense.
For most of the offseason, everyone seemed to focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers offense and how they would replace Antonio Brown in the passing game or deal with another season without Le’Veon Bell. Instead, the focus should have been on a growing young defense, especially since the Steelers have been at their most successful when they’ve leaned on their defense.
After acquiring Minkah Fitzpatrick from the Miami Dolphins, the Steelers have found the missing piece to their puzzle. Their defense has to be considered among the best in the league with a few game-changers in the secondary and a devastating pass rush with the likes of veteran Cameron Heyward and rising star T.J. Watt.
The Steelers used their defense to dominate Jared Goff in Week 10, as they defeated the Los Angeles Rams 17-12 behind five passes defended from Joe Haden, two sacks from Watt, and a defensive touchdown and game-winning interception from Fitzpatrick.
This win over the Rams means the Steelers would be a Wild Card team if the playoffs began today. Although the Buffalo Bills have the best record among the team’s in the Wild Card hunt and the Steelers are tied with the Oakland Raiders and Indianapolis Colts at 5-4, Pittsburgh boasts a better point differential than either Oakland or Indy.
More importantly, the Steelers literally beat the Colts 26-24 last week, giving them a critical edge in the playoff race if both teams were to finish 2019 with the same record.
Pittsburgh is flying high with a four-game winning streak after it once looked like their season would be a lost cause. Mike Tomlin has pulled off another excellent coaching job, finding a way to mold Mason Rudolph into an adequate game manager with Ben Roethlisberger injured while getting the most out of his defense.
Tomlin and the Steelers may not be powerhouses in the AFC this year, but they look like the best bet to earn the conference’s No. 6 seed right now. Aside from a blowout loss to the New England Patriots in Week 1, the Steelers have never lost by more than four points – and this includes games against the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.
Now, the Steelers are winning their tight games and have found their mojo. Their defense sets them apart from the rest of the pack. They will have a chance to flex their defensive might and build Rudolph’s confidence more, as they have three easy AFC North matchups against the Bengals and Cleveland Browns coming up.
