The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into the 2024 NFL playoffs on a downward trajectory. After starting the season 10-3, they now sit at 10-6, having dropped three consecutive games. While losing to strong opponents like the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, and Kansas City Chiefs—teams with top-five Super Bowl odds according to DraftKings Sportsbook—isn’t necessarily alarming, the manner of their defeats is concerning. The Steelers were thoroughly outplayed in all three games. To have any postseason success, they’ll need significant improvement, particularly in their red zone performance on both offense and defense.
Defensive Breakdown
The Steelers’ defense has been particularly disappointing during their three-game losing streak, especially in the red zone. Since their Week 9 bye, opponents have converted 70% of their red zone trips into touchdowns, a figure surpassed only by the Dallas Cowboys this season. Several factors contribute to these struggles, with poor communication being a major issue. Each week, the defense suffers from coverage breakdowns, leaving opposing receivers wide open. Against elite teams, even flawless defense can be challenged, but glaring mistakes make it far easier for opponents to capitalize.
Additionally, Pittsburgh’s renowned pass rush has been underwhelming in recent weeks. Despite being one of the league’s best defensive fronts earlier in the season, they managed just two quarterback hits and no sacks against the Chiefs. While Patrick Mahomes excels at evading pressure, other AFC playoff quarterbacks are similarly skilled. When communication breakdowns are combined with excessive time for opposing quarterbacks to throw, the Steelers’ defense struggles to stop anyone in the red zone.
Offensive Woes
While the defense has shown potential for improvement, the offense appears beyond saving, particularly in the red zone. The Steelers have the second-worst red zone offense in the league, ahead of only the 3-13 New York Giants. Remarkably, their performance this year is even worse than last season, when they ranked 27th under Matt Canada and Kenny Pickett.
Much of the blame falls on offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, whose red zone schemes have been disastrous. Route combinations lack spacing, running plays consistently fail near the goal line, and the overall execution is poor. This is despite having capable red zone targets like 6’7” tight end Darnell Washington, George Pickens, and Pat Freiermuth.
Quarterback Russell Wilson’s recent turnovers in the red zone haven’t helped, but these issues have plagued the Steelers all season. If the offense continues to falter in the postseason, Smith’s job security could be in serious jeopardy movOffense 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 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 stoSteelers Red Zone Struggles Top of Mind Ahead of Playoffs
Defense Has Fallen Apart
The S
teelers 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.p.year.ing forward.
