Sadly, the 2024-25 Pittsburgh Steelers story got here to a different abrupt playoff halt, nonetheless with no playoff wins since 2016. They had been throttled within the Wild Card Spherical by their rival Baltimore Ravens 28-14.
Couple of notes earlier than we soar in. Due to Thomas Mock for his nice work that helped me be taught a lot of what I’m utilizing within the sequence visually. Spikes and clear throwaways are eliminated resulting from being the right situational resolution, together with bats on the line of scrimmage. 4 throwaways and a bat had been eliminated.
QB Russell Wilson went 20-of-29 passing, with a 69.0-percent completion price. Fairly robust numbers, however we all know stats don’t all the time inform the total story. The throwaways included antsy play type Wilson, bailing on clear pockets at occasions, and never getting by his progressions cleanly. Sure, the offensive line wanted to play higher too, however 4 sacks on Wilson weren’t all their fault.
Receivers additionally deserve their share of the blame with two drops, the primary play of the sport that had me saying right here we go once more, a reoccurring situation from the season finale. Talking of reoccurring, the offense had yet one more gradual begin, with a number of horrendous info. Within the first half: solely two first downs, 1-of-5 on third down, 59 complete yards, simply 19 dashing, didn’t get to the purple zone, and no factors scored.
First half Ravens offense: 19 first downs, 7-of-8 third downs, whopping 308 complete yards (164 rush, 144 go), and 3-for-3 within the purple zone. Whereas the Steelers offense did nothing, it was additionally the protection that deserves extreme blame for the 21-0 deficit at halftime. Not playoff caliber, an excessive amount of to beat towards the clearly higher workforce final Saturday night time.
Again to Wilson, this additionally places context to some robust stat traces, that got here when the sport was just about over by halftime. In complete, he threw for 270 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, 4 big-time throws (season-high), no turnover-worthy performs, and his greatest 91.7-percent adjusted completion price of 2024.
Too little too late, and maddening why Pittsburgh is such a horrid workforce to begin video games: no first drive TDs in 2024, outscored 73-0 in first quarter of their final six playoff video games. Recipe for the newest catastrophe and a number of other years of playoff ache.
Particularly grotesque this sport with no factors your entire first half, and a protection that enables greater than anticipated in a complete sport earlier than heading into the locker room, and was down trending general within the five-game dropping streak to finish the 12 months. One thing’s gotta give.
Let’s begin with a easy view of the 24 charted passes, with variety of throws at every go distance for the sport:
#1. 0-5 air-yards: 50.0-percent. 12 passes. The primary play of the sport was a cease path to TE Pat Freiermuth, sadly dropping the go as he did on the ultimate play of the season finale, a part of the tough begin on a should-be routine play. The next play was one other cease path to TE Darnell Washington at 4-air yards, including churning YAC for a 9-yard acquire.
After a third and 1 four-yard run by RB Jaylen Warren prevented a primary drive three-and-out, Wilson had completely happy ft and seemingly effected his accuracy on a crosser to WR Mike Williams, falling incomplete. The opening dive then stalled on a third and 6 three-yard scramble, the place Wilson held it dealing with high quality protection, forcing a punt.
Drive two was a three-and-out end result, ending with a third and seven out path to Freiermuth at 5-air yards, giving valiant YAC effort however corralled by a number of Ravens for a similar yardage. This led to no first quarter factors.
Subsequent drive was related ache, a third and 1 that was additionally focused wanting the sticks, and frustratingly solo tackled for a second straight three-and-out fail. This was after two profitable runs, and uninterested in Pittsburgh both heaving or throwing wanting the chains on the cash down.
Much more irritating was punting on the next 4th and inches, realizing the efficiency of Baltimore’s offense. No religion from HC Mike Tomlin, leaning on a regressing protection to finish the 12 months, and the Ravens scored the following drive to steer 14-0.
With 4 minutes within the second quarter, WR George Pickens acquired his first catch on a cease route, taking the five-air yard go for an eight-yard acquire to begin the drive. The following 2nd and a couple of, Wilson dumps it to Warren on the line of scrimmage, wiggling for some YAC for 5-yards, the one passing first down of the primary half. Subsequent play was the Fields throwaway on his lone go try beneath duress. Two complete snaps, not the involvement many wished.
Then, third and eight was a negated go ball catch by Pickens, however clearly pushed off on an offensive go interference that might have had Pittsburgh within the purple zone. As a substitute, a completely behind the chains third and 18, chopping their losses with a flat path to Freiermuth for 9 yards towards off protection. Fifth straight failed drive, and Baltimore getting time to punch it in as soon as once more for a 21-0 first half beatdown.
Backed up close to their very own finish zone, Wilson is antsy and the cease path to Washington is low and practically on the bottom to your tall TE, come on. Fairly some time till the following try, with the outlet Pittsburgh dug themselves.
After two penalties, it’s 1st and 15. RB Najee Harris will get the checkdown, huge open over the center at 2-air yards, and including good YAC together with churn for 11 yards. Good effort that wasn’t displayed throughout this Steelers workforce. This was adopted up by a throwaway, the place Wilson had time, and looking out left the place Austin was open, a transparent miss in my view.
This created a third and 4, a pleasant scheme and pitch/catch on a slant to Pickens, taking the 5-air yarder plus YAC for the 11-yard conversion. The place are most of these performs early within the sport although?
On the ultimate drive, the ultimate instance adopted a Wilson five-yard scramble, bailing for no obvious purpose rapidly. This 2nd and 5 throw was a fast out to Pickens with 8:36 left within the sport, corralled for 6-yards, and fortunately the whistle blew on ahead progress with the ball stripped late.
#2. 5-10 air-yards: 29.2-percent. Seven examples, only one but to be talked about, pointing to the stale nature of the go sport notably early. Extra ache after a throwaway (T Broderick Jones beat dangerous inside), a Harris false begin, and 2nd and 15 sack (Jones beat dangerous across the edge).
This detrimental stretch led to a third and 22 with 6:47 left within the sport with a 28-14 deficit. One other large gap dug, and in 4 down territory gained simply seven yards to WR Van Jefferson tackled rapidly.
#3. Explosive (20-plus air-yards): 25.0-percent. Six right here. A number of makes an attempt, however none within the horrible first half.
The primary was third and 9, Wilson having good pocket presence backed up on his personal finish zone, stepping up for a pleasant throw and catch over the center by WR Calvin Austin regardless of a giant hit for 25 yards. Actually the primary nice offensive feeling at 10:49 within the third quarter.
Identical drive, it’s third and 5. Wilson launches a reasonably go ball on a pleasant idea, a slot fade with a rub to free Williams, catching it at 24 air yards and including YAC for a 37-yard acquire, good conversion. However in typical style, an ideal play has been book-ended with horrendous performs, right here being two straight throwaways (predictable play-action flat properly lined, unnecessarily antsy).
This led to third and 10. Fortunately, it was a superb learn and throw to Jefferson, who stacked the nook in single protection, after shifting the security to the center along with his eyes. This a lot 32 air-yarder was a much-needed finish zone strike, chopping the deficit to 21-7 mid-third quarter. Props on this three third down conversion drive, emphasizing the offensive potential that lacks consistency.
Embarrassingly, Baltimore went on to attain one other TD, extending their result in 28-7. Pittsburgh responded with one other explosive landing, an out and up gap shot that Wilson threaded at 25 air yards to Pickens, who plucked it and spun away from the security for the waltz-in YAC rating. Glimmer of hope late third quarter, with a 28-14 scoreboard, however sadly was only a tease with that being the ultimate rating.
Two extra makes an attempt on the ultimate drive. This go ball was fortunately not one other offensive go interference on Pickens, with much less egregious hand use on the catch level, going up excessive for the seize and spectacular toe-tap for the 26-yard acquire mid-fourth quarter.
6:14 left, final ditch effort on 4th and 15. Wilson seemingly locked onto his resolution pre-snap to focus on Austin, streaking deep over the center however was triple lined on the Hail Mary desperation, practically intercepted. Continued instance of excruciating outcomes, and undesirable conditions resulting from self-inflicted wounds.
#4. Behind-the-Line: 20.8-percent. 5 performs. First one adopted a failed flea flicker sack (free blitzer, practically stripped, tries to step up). Led to 2nd and 14 late first quarter, a wide-open dump off to Warren with YAC for a seven-yard acquire, however the drive was a three-and-out fail.
Then, two on the next drive later within the third quarter, each to Harris and on first downs. The primary was an open dump off with a pleasant block from Freiermuth, gaining 9 yards on the primary play after happening 28-7 on the scoreboard. The opposite was a display screen, with nice blocks, imaginative and prescient, and cuts for an explosive 21-yard acquire. This was one of many uncommon quick targets that reaped nice YAC advantages in your entire sport.
Ultimate one got here late third quarter, the place Jones allowed a QB hit (debatably late), the place Wilson took the checkdown to Warren, who did properly simply to churn and keep away from destructive yards on the two-yard acquire. The next play was one other third down fail, with a poor Warren block pressured Wilson into scramble mode and introduced down. Peaks, however ginormous valleys.
T-last. 10-15 air-yards: 0.0-percent. NONE.
T-last. 15-20 air-yards: 0.0-percent. NONE. It’s properly documented that Wilson is a excessive share quick goal, or moon ball passer. However to have zero throws to the intermediate vary (10-20 yards) is baffling and easily not acceptable.
Listed below are the dots of completions/incompletions for the sport:
Final level painfully visualized, with no charted passes even near the intermediate vary. Illustrates Wilson’s predictable MO, primarily quick passing and throw it deep. Fortunately, he related on a majority of the latter, or this sport would have felt even worse than it already did.
Completion Charges By Distance:
WILSON:
Behind-the-line: 5/5 (100-percent).
0-5 air-yards: 9/12 (75.0-percent).
5-10 air-yards: 5/7 (71.4-percent).
10-15 air-yards: 0/0 (N/A).
15-20 air-yards: 0/0 (N/A).
Explosive: 5/6 (83.3-percent).
Robust charges general, notably spectacular on explosives, together with each touchdowns. However the stats solely inform a part of the story, as I laid out completely earlier.
Completion Charges By Location:
WILSON:
Outdoors left numbers: 7/9 (77.8-percent).
Left numbers-left hash: 3/3 (100-percent).
Inside hashes: 2/3 (66.7-percent).
Proper hash-right numbers: 3/4 (75.0-percent).
Outdoors proper numbers: 5/5 (100-percent).
Good percentages once more, excellent outdoors the proper numbers and left numbers to left hash, however all 5 air yards or much less. Good deep connection to Austin between the hashes, however the lone explosive incompletion was the close to choose Hail Mary.
Now for the heat-maps for charted-passes, then completions solely:
We see related charts on all charted makes an attempt and completions solely, with the exception being the last-ditch desperation heave incomplete into triple protection. Seemingly wholesome go distances when you didn’t watch the sport. However ignoring the intermediate space of the sector, and never having an explosive try till the second half, whenever you’re already down insurmountably had been abysmal info in getting throttled.
Listed below are all 471 charted throws for Wilson and Fields within the 2024 common and submit season:
#1. 0-5 air yards: 40.8-percent. Beforehand 40.3-percent. 2023 35.0-percent.
#2. 5-10 air yards: 25.1-percent. Beforehand 24.8-percent. 2023 23.8-percent.
#3. Behind-the-line: 16.3-percent. Beforehand 16.1-percent. 2023 18.5-percent.
#4. Explosive: 14.9-percent. Beforehand 14.3-percent. 2023 12.4-percent.
#5. 10-15 air yards: 9.6-percent. Beforehand 10.1-percent. 2023 13.0-percent.
#6. 15-20 air yards: 6.8-percent. Beforehand 7.2-percent. 2023 10.8-percent.
The total 2024 spectrum sheds gentle on wanted adjustments shifting ahead. 0-5 air yards is commonest for all passing assaults, but it surely dominating the go distance share by this a lot must be checked out, over five-percent greater than 2023.
WILSON:
Behind-the-line: 49/57 (86.0-percent).
0-5 air-yards: 101/127 (79.5-percent).
5-10 air-yards: 53/76 (69.7-percent).
10-15 air-yards: 18/29 (62.1-percent).
15-20 air-yards: 12/33 (52.2-percent).
Explosive: 27/48 (56.3-percent).
FIELDS:
Behind-the-line: 15/20 (75.0-percent).
0-5 air-yards: 57/65 (87.7-percent).
5-10 air-yards: 30/42 (71.4-percent).
10-15 air-yards: 8/16 (50.0-percent).
15-20 air-yards: 5/9 (55.6-percent).
Explosive: 6/21 (28.6-percent).
These numbers emphasize the variations within the two quarterbacks’ seasons. Wilson had greater charges behind the road, and previous ten air yards which neither QB focused typically. Was considerably extra profitable on explosive passes (practically doubling Fields). There was a conservative lid on Fields within the first six video games of 2024, and could be fascinating to see what that might appear like if given a reliable QB1 alternative.
Completion Charges By Location:
WILSON:
Outdoors left numbers: 57/90 (63.3-percent).
Left numbers-left hash: 57/67 (85.1-percent).
Inside hashes: 18/25 (72.0-percent).
Proper hash-right numbers: 53/62 (85.5-percent).
Outdoors proper numbers: 50/74 (67.6-percent).
FIELDS:
Outdoors left numbers: 35/53 (66.0-percent).
Left numbers-left hash: 14/20 (70.0-percent).
Inside hashes: 11/13 (84.6-percent).
Proper hash-right numbers: 30/38 (78.9-percent).
Outdoors proper numbers: 22/34 (64.7-percent).
Wilson had extra areas of upper charges, with the exceptions being outdoors the left numbers and contained in the hashes. The intense center of the sector was the least focused throughout the board, decrease on my radar than many people, somewhat extra in between the numbers previous ten air yards one in every of my largest hopes for change in 2025.
I’ve been saying that for some time although, so this is likely one of the many hopeful adjustments I’ll consider after I see sadly, regardless of who Pittsburgh’s quarterback is in 2025.
To shut, listed here are the dots together with warmth maps for all charted makes an attempt and completions solely:
Agonizing finish of the 12 months storyline for the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers, who confirmed promise throughout it. When dealing with harder opponents towards the tip of the 12 months, they crumbled. Comparable discussions to previous seasons, with an excessive amount of lack of creativity and scheme regardless of a brand new OC in Arthur Smith. This group actually must look within the mirror and make severe change in the event that they anticipate a distinct end result, notably within the postseason.
Much less madness, extra motion, I’m begging you.
