Even in a 17-game season, the Pittsburgh Steelers\u2019 defense has struggled to replicate one statistic that its 16-season units achieved with regularity. The 50-sack mark was always expected from the unit. Now, it\u2019s a number they\u2019re constantly chasing.<\/p>\n
In five years from 2017 through 2021, the Steelers hit 50-plus sacks every single season. That spanned the NFL\u2019s final 16-game seasons and the first under the new 17-game model in 2021. This trend seemed likely to continue. After all, Pittsburgh\u2019s pass rush had plenty of talent, and the extra game made the math easier.<\/p>\n
Since then, the Steelers have come close but have been unable to get over the hump<\/a>: 47 in 2023, 48 in 2025, and a pair of 40-sack clunkers in 2022 (where T.J. Watt missed half the year) and 2024.<\/p>\n Choosing 50 is somewhat arbitrary, and Pittsburgh came close last season. Still, it\u2019s important to set clear and tangible goals that will generally correlate to success, like Mike McCarthy\u2019s \u201c55\u201d number for offensive touches.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n For a Steelers\u2019 defense that has invested much in its EDGE rushers and young defensive line, 50 should be the minimum. The baseline. That equates to an average of about 3 sacks per game. Pittsburgh has often padded its numbers with big showings against the Cleveland Browns. In their first meeting in 2025, the Steelers took down Dillon Gabriel six times. Even that plethora of sacks couldn\u2019t get the team to 50. The Browns revamped their offensive line in the offseason, which could make for a tougher challenge.<\/p>\n Consistency is key. In five games, the Steelers notched one or fewer sacks, including two combined sacks across Weeks 10-12. That tanked the team\u2019s average and kept them short of 50.<\/p>\n