The Pittsburgh Steelers were in a rough spot following their loss to the Green Bay Packers. After starting out 4-1, back-to-back losses dropped them to 4-3. Then, they were set to play the Indianapolis Colts, the best team in the NFL. They looked set up for a third straight loss. However, the Steelers proved many of their doubters wrong, defeating the Colts in convincing fashion. That performance has instilled a lot of confidence in former NFL head coach Tony Dungy to the point where he chose them as the AFC team that he trusts most right now.
“I’m gonna flip and say the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Dungy said Wednesday on the Football Night in America podcast. “I think Mike Tomlin has made a culture shift… Their offense is better than it has been.
“If what we saw against Indy, that defensive philosophy shift, if they keep that going, I think they have a chance… I trust Aaron Rodgers and the way this offense has been playing if they get some defense.”
The Steelers’ defense looked like it flipped a switch against the Colts. It’s been disappointing for most of this season. Mike Tomlin thought that unit would be historic, but it hasn’t come close to achieving that vision. Going into Week 9, it was ranked 30th in the league.
However, it turned things around against the Colts. The Steelers forced six turnovers and posted five sacks. Also, they held MVP candidate Jonathan Taylor to 45 rushing yards, his worst performance of the season. The Steelers’ defense looked more like people expected it to.
Dungy went more in-depth on why he believes in the Steelers during that same podcast.
“If they play like they played against Indy, where you say, ‘We’re gonna play basic coverages, we’re not gonna give you big plays, we’re gonna let our pass rushers eat,’ how do you beat a team like that? You have to run the ball. How many teams in football today want to just run the ball and pound it? Not very many.”
Dungy is correct that the Steelers’ secondary played better in Week 9. That had been their team’s biggest weakness. The Steelers have also been inconsistent against the run this year. At times, their run defense has looked putrid. Other times, like against the Colts, it’s been stout.
However, the NFL has more teams with solid run games than Dungy makes it seem. Specifically, some of the top teams in the AFC have good rushing attacks. The Baltimore Ravens ran all over the Steelers twice last year. Also, the Buffalo Bills have a good ground game fueled by James Cook and Josh Allen.
The Steelers still have to play both those teams this season, so they’ll be tested. While their defense was better in Week 9, it might be a little early to trust that it’s fixed totally. We’ll see if the Steelers prove that Dungy placed his faith in the right team.
Recommended for you