One Area Steelers Need To Improve In Offensively Before Playoffs

The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the best teams in the league at 8-2, but there are still areas they can improve in.

Pittsburgh’s defense has been elite this season, allowing the second-fewest points per game with a staggering 16.2. The Steelers have only let up 20 points twice in the entire season. Their offense has been excelling with Russell Wilson under center, and the team is 4-0 with the veteran signal-caller. The offense still has areas to improve in.

The Steelers need to improve their red zone efficiency down the stretch as they prepare for the playoffs, according to NFL.com’s Eric Edholm.

“Mike Tomlin has joked that he’s tired of kicker Chris Boswell winning Special Teams Player of the Week (Boswell won the honor again on Wednesday),” Edholm said. “What Tomlin really means is that he wants his offense converting more touchdowns. The Steelers made undeniable gains with the move from Justin Fields to Russell Wilson at quarterback, but Sunday against the Ravens was a step backward offensively, highlighting the team’s red-zone issues. Pittsburgh reached the red zone four times. The Steelers kicked three field goals, and Wilson was intercepted once.”

“This season the Steelers are 30th in the NFL in red-zone efficiency at 44.4%, and they’re below the 40% mark with Wilson at the helm. They were 3 of 3 in the red area against the Commanders but 0 of 4 against both the Giants and Ravens. One big issue: Wilson is only 7-of-24 passing (29.2%) inside opponents’ 20 yard line. The Steelers also have key penalties, turnovers and drops down there and haven’t run the ball effectively enough.”

Pittsburgh’s game against Baltimore displayed how its defense can sustain them against good teams. The Steelers offense has taken a step forward under Wilson, but improving their red zone offense would make them a dangerous opponent for other teams down the stretch.

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