An vital stat to workforce success (or lack thereof) is stress on the quarterback. Right now, I wished to supply information on this from final season and talk about what it might imply for the 2026 Steelers.
Here’s a visible of 2025 pressures on either side of the ball:
Seeing Pittsburgh within the high proper emphasizes that they restricted pressures on offense whereas creating them on protection. Actually, the Steelers offense allowed the fewest pressures of any NFL workforce final yr. That quantity got here in at 157 pressures per Sports activities Data Options (SIS), almost 20 fewer than another offense.
That is multi-faceted, after all. QB Aaron Rodgers fast time to throw is essential, which we’ve highlighted totally on Steelers Depot. There are professionals and cons to that, with one of many major positives being preserving the 42-year-old quarterback clear.
The offensive line deserves credit score for that 2025 stress quantity, little doubt. Many know by now the plan appears to level to musical chairs by way of place modifications. Solely time will inform if the unit can present related leads to 2026.
After all, the hope is that they do. However the flip aspect is it might take a while to gel. One factor is for certain: It could bode effectively for Rodgers.
Trying on the defensive outcomes, Pittsburgh’s protection ranked fifth as a workforce creating pressures. There have been 258 of them, to be actual, and simply over 100 greater than the Steelers offense allowed. That differential was the very best within the league in 2025, with Seattle coming in at second at 93.
Pittsburgh has top-of-the-line edge-rushing models within the NFL and has invested in its d-line, which incorporates strong depth and youth (that may hopefully development positively). Whereas historical past is simply that, I seemed on the schedule for 2026. Ten of the 17 video games on the Steelers 2026 schedule have been groups that had below-average stress outcomes on offense. Hopefully that’s related this yr, and Pittsburgh’s D can eat.
Whereas the Steelers are hoping for a extra profitable season in 2026, being high 5 in pressures on each offense and protection once more actually wouldn’t harm.
