5 things we learned from win in Vegas: Steelers specialize in ‘splash’ on defense

Five things we learned from Steelers 23, Raiders 18:

1. Splash city

Barring a complete turnaround, it seems apparent at this point that if the Steelers are going places this season that it will be the defense that leads the way. And so far, it has — though not in the most traditional way.

While the Steelers rank among the bottom half of the league in many of the most common statistical measures — points allowed, yards allowed, yards per play, rushing yards, passing yards — they are consistently up near the top of the league when it comes to what coach Mike Tomlin would call “splash plays.”

Sunday night’s game featured three interceptions, four sacks, eight QB hits and five tackles for loss. They had a turnover via a fumble overturned by replay and a sack negated by a personal foul penalty, too.

The disruptive plays on defense were a significant reason the Steelers beat the Raiders. They were perhaps the only reason (two defensive touchdowns) the Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns six days prior.

Headed into Monday night’s games, through almost three full weeks of the NFL season the Steelers led the NFL in sacks (13) and forced fumbles (eight), were second in takeaways (eight), tied for fourth in interceptions (four), tied for fifth in rate of opponent drives that end in a turnover (20.5%), tied for fifth in tackles for loss (19), third in rate of opponent pass attempts that end in sacks (10.3%), second in QB hits (26), second in opponent QB “pressures” (36), fourth in pressure rate on opponent dropbacks (27.3%), tied for fourth in hurries (15) and fourth in rate of creating hurries (11.4%).

That’s a lot of havoc opposing offenses have had to deal with.

2. Going long

When George Pickens scored on a 71-yard touchdown pass from Kenny Pickett against the Browns, it was the Steelers’ longest play from scrimmage in 156 weeks.

When Pickett hit Calvin Austin for a first-quarter touchdown Sunday, it was the Steelers’ longest play from scrimmage in… one week.

Austin’s 72-yard reception became the Steelers’ longest since Chase Claypool’s 84-yard touchdown on Sept. 20, 2020. It marked the first time the Steelers had plays that long in consecutive weeks in five years — since Ben Roethlisberger had 75-plus yard touchdown passes during three straight games.

The play also was the longest in the career of Pickett, who before the Pickens play had a career-long passing gain of 57 yards. The 46.0 air yards traveled downfield on the throw (per Next Gen Stats) was the second-longest in Pickett’s career.

3. M-Rob(bed)

In the almost total makeover of the inside linebackers corps the Steelers executed over the offseason, Mark Robinson was the only man left standing from 2022. He also became something of a forgotten man behind veteran newcomers Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts and Kwon Alexander. Robinson did not play on defense during either of the Steelers’ first two games.

Robinson saw the field against the Raiders — and he made an immediate impact. Robinson made two tackles of Las Vegas running back Josh Jacobs within a five-play span that bridged the end of the first quarter. Robinson was on the field for three Las Vegas rushes — he made the tackle (after a minimal gain) on two. This in addition to making the tackle on the first special-teams opportunity of the game (a Steelers’ first-quarter punt).

But Robinson appeared in only four snaps on defense Sunday, remaining buried behind the three veteran teammates at ILB.

4. Happy Harvin

There’s a double-pronged punchline out there somewhere about celebrating that Steelers punter Pressley Harvin III leads the NFL in two categories.

Punts and total punting yardage.

Of course, the number of times Harvin is deployed to punt is a reflection on the struggles of the Steelers’ offense through three games. But Harvin also had an objectively strong game in Las Vegas, averaging 46.5 net and 53.8 gross yards on his six punts, dropping three inside the 20. That included a punt of 56 yards to the Raiders’ 15 during the closing seconds that effectively ended the game.

Harvin, who also deserves a small share of the plaudits for Chris Boswell’s 10-for-10 start to the season on placekicks, entered Monday with the NFL’s seventh-best rate of punts inside the 20 at 42.1%.

5. Short week win

The win improved the Steelers to 6-0-1 in their past seven games played six days after an appearance on “Monday Night Football” (though an asterisk exists in regards to a loss after a Monday afternoon game in 2020).

Putting aside that bizarre covid circumstance, it has been a long time since the Steelers lost while on the road on five days rest — 1996. Sunday’s win extended their winning streak to seven in such road-Sunday-game-after-Monday-night-game situations. That also illustrates how rare it is the league has scheduled the Steelers to travel on short rest after a Monday game. Sunday was just the third such instance over the past 15 seasons.

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