We’ve spent plenty of time focusing on where the Pittsburgh Steelers need to improve. Offense, defense, and special teams all have areas in need of improvement. Still, there are areas where the team must simply produce similar numbers.
Here are three places where Pittsburgh can replicate last year’s production and feel good about it.
1. Offensive Line Penalties – 13 (Fewest Leaguewide)
A point we highlighted in February, Pittsburgh’s offensive line was cleaner than any other front five last year. Just 13 penalties the entire year, four fewer than any other collective group.
Will there be regression to the mean? As the adage goes, refs can call holding on any play, and perhaps Pittsburgh got a little “lucky” last season in that regard. The unit will also have to adjust to a new offensive line coach, even if James Campen doesn’t plan on making wholesale changes.
The cleaner this offensive line can play, the better it is for the offense’s overall output. Penalties can be such a drive killer, and Pittsburgh avoided them at a remarkable level last year.
2. Offensive Short-Yardage Success – 63 Percent (11th Leaguewide)
There’s still room for growth, but last year’s short-yardage success (3rd/4th down and 1-3 yards to go) was a massive leap over 2024. Two years ago, Pittsburgh finished 30th in the league after converting barely more than half (52.6 percent) of its chances.
Breaking that down even further, the Steelers’ short-yardage running game saw a big improvement. In 2024, the ground game converted just 59 percent of its chances. In 2025, that number spiked to over 72 percent.
No question, that was a motivation for Pittsburgh breaking out the Tush Push and its many offshoots. Will Mike McCarthy continue it in 2026? If so, with Connor Heyward off to Las Vegas, who will be the quarterback?
Regardless of the plan, the Steelers must win in these critical third- and fourth-down moments. Cracking the top 10 would be great, but replicating this stat would also be acceptable.
3. Defensive Takeaways – 27 (Fourth Leaguewide)
Despite its warts, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense continued its impressive trend of taking the football away. Pittsburgh ranked in the top five in 2025 with 27 of them, highlighted by a six-takeaway day against the Indianapolis Colts and five against the New England Patriots. Since 2022, the Steelers and Eagles have been the only teams with three such defensive performances.
They came in all forms. Strip-sack fumbles, sometimes for touchdowns. Tipping passes for interceptions. Recovering muffed punts.
If Pittsburgh can improve other areas of its game and continue creating splash plays, the unit will be one of the NFL’s best. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham must continue a turnover culture the defense has enjoyed for years while preventing the big plays that ailed the Steelers last season.
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