The Pittsburgh Steelers climbed back to the top of the AFC North after defeating the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday.
With the Steelers back in the playoff race, Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon highlighted the Pittsburgh defense as a key factor in a potential Super Bowl run.
“Aaron Rodgers may have his limitations at this point in his career, but he’s still a four-time MVP quarterback supported by a defense that can hijack games when it is at its best,” Gagnon wrote on Friday. “Nobody in the AFC has more takeaways than Pittsburgh, with 13 of its 23 coming in the last six weeks.”
The Steelers have relied on strong defensive performances in past seasons, but even though they are forcing turnovers, the Pittsburgh defense hasn’t been as dominant as in previous years.
Pittsburgh is allowing 369.3 yards per game, which won’t be good enough against the best teams come playoff time.
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The Steelers’ best chance for a postseason run lies in gaining an early lead in every game, allowing their pass rush to pressure opposing quarterbacks.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Steelers’ pass rush is currently ranked third in the NFL, which could be a massive advantage in the playoffs.
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