Hearing about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ long-standing scoring woes might not be ideal, but hey, at least this isn’t an Aaron Rodgers article. Perhaps the team’s dogged pursuit of Rodgers can be explained by the frustrations of the last six seasons. This offense has only occasionally finished average and has been more likely to be a bottom-feeder. Last year, they cracked 16th, a “good” year that featured the Steelers being held under 18 points for their final four regular season games (and Wild Card loss).
Spring is about setting goals and creating high expectations. For Pittsburgh, that should mean making a run at a top-ten scoring offense. If so, it’ll be something the Steelers haven’t achieved in literal years. The last time they reached the top ten was 2018, the final year of Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown as teammates.
How does that six-year drought stack up? Below is a chart showing the last season each team finished in the top ten in scoring.
Team
Year Of Last Top 10 Offense
Bengals
2024
Ravens
2024
Bills
2024
Broncos
2024
Eagles
2024
Buccaneers
2024
Lions
2024
Commanders
2024
Packers
2024
Vikings
2024
Browns
2023
Dolphins
2023
Colts
2023
Cowboys
2023
Saints
2023
49ers
2023
Rams
2023
Jaguars
2022
Chiefs
2022
Seahawks
2022
Patriots
2021
Chargers
2021
Titans
2020
Raiders
2020
**Steelers**
**2018**
Falcons
2018
Bears
2018
Cardinals
2016
Giants
2015
Panthers
2015
Texans
2012
Jets
2008
Pittsburgh, as you might expect, ranks low on the list, tied with the Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears. The only teams with a longer streak are company the Steelers don’t want to be near. The Arizona Cardinals (2016), New York Giants (2015), Carolina Panthers (2015), Houston Texans (2012), and New York Jets (2008).
The rest of the AFC North appears near the top of the list. The Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens [were top ten in 2024.](https://www.espn.com/nfl/stats/team/_/table/passing/sort/totalPointsPerGame/dir/desc) In fact, since 2019, they’ve made the list a combined seven times (Ravens four, Bengals three). Even the 2023 Browns reached the No. 10 spot, though they haven’t finished higher since 2007 when Derek Anderson led the attack.
There was a time when Pittsburgh’s ranking in the top ten was a given. They finished there in five straight seasons from 2014-2018 and haven’t reached there since. The 2020 season came closest, finishing 12th overall, before the bottom fell out. In Ben Roethlisberger’s final season, they ranked 21st. In 2022, they dropped to 26th, 28th in 2023, and 16th under Arthur Smith last season.
If Pittsburgh goes a seventh season without reaching the top ten, it’ll be their longest streak since a nine-year run from 1986-1994. A feat the franchise doesn’t want to match.
Of course, it’s fair to point out how well the defense has played over the same span. Since 2018, Pittsburgh has ranked in the top ten four times. But it hasn’t gotten them far enough, especially in the postseason when the defense has crumbled.
Getting into the top ten won’t be easy, and current projections have this unit finishing average, at best. But for the franchise to break its playoff win drought, a major boost in offensive output is key. There are [four key stats](https://steelersdepot.com/2025/05/four-stats-the-steelers-defense-must-change-in-2025/) that, if turned around, will give Pittsburgh a chance.