The Pittsburgh Steelers are on a three-game shedding streak, and among the many points has been their play within the purple zone. At the moment, I wished to have a look at each side of the ball, giving visible context and takeaways.
Let’s begin with Pittsburgh’s offense. Listed below are weekly purple zone landing charges by means of Week 17:
We undoubtedly see a rollercoaster of ups and downs, together with their most up-to-date loss towards the two-time defending champion Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. The Steelers went 1-of-4 (25-percent) in Week 17, just too many missed alternatives towards that caliber of staff. Not solely did they fail to attain total in one other multi-possession 29-10 loss, however turning the ball over on a purple zone interception was a giant swing in KC’s favor.
They’re nicely beneath their season common, which painfully ranks subsequent to final within the league. Listed below are the numbers by week:
Week 1 vs. Falcons: 2 makes an attempt, 0-percent.
Week 2 vs. Broncos: 2 makes an attempt, 50-percent.
Week 3 vs. Chargers: 4 makes an attempt, 25-percent.
Week 4 vs. Colts: 4 makes an attempt, 75-percent.
Week 5 vs. Cowboys: 2 makes an attempt, 100-percent.
Week 6 vs. Raiders: 4 makes an attempt, 50-percent.
Week 7 vs. Jets: 6 makes an attempt, 66.7-percent.
Week 8 vs. Giants: 4 makes an attempt, 0-percent.
Week 9 BYE
Week 10 vs. Commanders: 4 makes an attempt, 75-percent.
Week 11 vs. Ravens: 4 makes an attempt, 0-percent.
Week 12 vs. Browns: 2 makes an attempt, 50-percent.
Week 13 vs. Bengals: 4 makes an attempt, 50-percent.
Week 14 vs. Browns: 4 makes an attempt, 50-percent.
Week 15 vs. Eagles: 2 makes an attempt, 50-percent.
Week 16 vs. Ravens: 2 makes an attempt, 100-percent.
Week 17 vs. Chiefs: 4 makes an attempt, 25-percent.
Lately, Pittsburgh had been 50-percent or increased earlier than that recreation since Week 12. It hasn’t correlated to wins, although, with a 2-3 document in that five-game stretch. One other situation is just not attending to the purple zone usually sufficient, simply two journeys every within the Eagles (27-13) and Ravens (34-17) losses. Six video games with two makes an attempt on the 12 months and three since Week 12, all losses.
5 video games have been the worst in charges. Pittsburgh didn’t get a purple zone rating in three video games this season and had one other early within the 12 months. Till the Chiefs recreation, the staff had been capable of overcome that truth till Christmas Day.
Whereas the offense certainly must step up, that’s an ideal segue to how issues have been occurring protection:
There’s a clear downtrend after the bye week, beneath their season common, which ranks sixteenth by means of Week 17. That is actually an element of their 4 losses within the span and has additionally allowed groups to achieve the purple space way more usually total since Week 12.
Listed below are the weekly numbers:
Week 1 vs. Falcons: 2 makes an attempt, 50-percent.
Week 2 vs. Broncos: 3 makes an attempt, 0-percent.
Week 3 vs. Chargers: 1 try, 0-percent.
Week 4 vs. Colts: 5 makes an attempt, 60-percent.
Week 5 vs. Cowboys: 4 makes an attempt, 25-percent.
Week 6 vs. Raiders: 3 makes an attempt, 66.7-percent.
Week 7 vs. Jets: 3 makes an attempt, 66.7-percent.
Week 8 vs. Giants: 3 makes an attempt, 0-percent.
Week 9 BYE
Week 10 vs. Commanders: 3 makes an attempt, 100-percent.
Week 11 vs. Ravens: 2 makes an attempt, 100-percent.
Week 12 vs. Browns: 4 makes an attempt, 75-percent.
Week 13 vs. Bengals: 5 makes an attempt, 80-percent.
Week 14 vs. Browns: 3 makes an attempt, 33.3-percent.
Week 15 vs. Eagles: 6 makes an attempt, 50-percent.
Week 16 vs. Ravens: 5 makes an attempt, 60-percent.
Week 17 vs. Chiefs: 5 makes an attempt, 80-percent.
4 makes an attempt or extra in all however one recreation since Week 12, every with a 50-percent conversion fee or worse. Whereas Pittsburgh’s offense undoubtedly has points within the purple zone, the protection’s downward spiral has plummeted not too long ago atop the AFC North squad on this powerful stretch towards the division and playoff groups.
Together with these painful info, the Steelers’ protection allowed two good purple zone fee outings by opposing offenses however was capable of overcome them with three makes an attempt or much less every recreation after the bye. Pittsburgh restricted its opponents to 3 purple zone drives or much less in six video games within the first eight weeks, in comparison with simply thrice within the final eight video games.
Pittsburgh’s protection has actually digressed in purple zone protection, trying like a very totally different protection because the bye in each amount and high quality and never in a great way. The unit was among the many greatest in soccer early this 12 months, rating second in purple zone landing charges by means of Week 8. That’s plummeted right down to sixteenth on the 12 months, which feels a lot worse than that rank, given their latest outcomes.
With how the Pittsburgh Steelers are constructed, leaning on their protection so closely, we get particular context to a giant a part of the staff’s latest struggles. Clearly, they’ve proven a capability to carry out nicely within the purple space, which can hopefully look significantly better in a significant finale towards Cincinnati. They’re rising as Pittsburgh is falling, preserving their playoff hopes alive. Additionally they transformed 4-of-5 (80-percent) purple zone journeys within the first 44-38 shootout.
Fortunately, Pittsburgh got here out victorious, regardless of the offense going 2-4 (50-percent). The Steelers wins and losses clearly correlate extra to defensive success (or lack thereof). Knock on wooden they’ve a superb outing towards a potent Bengals offense, with loads to play for aiming to make the playoffs on a four-game successful streak, final shedding to Pittsburgh.
Tall process, after displaying clear struggles on this regard towards them final time. Necessary in my view, heading into the postseason, with dangerous total outcomes towards that caliber of groups of their three-game shedding streak. Right here’s to hoping the Steelers are a significantly better purple zone staff the remainder of the best way.
Thanks for studying, and let me know your ideas within the feedback.
