Defensive resurgence for Steelers to be tested in rematch with Ravens

The way the Pittsburgh Steelers defense has played since the bye has mirrored the success of the team and the way it has staved off elimination in the AFC playoff picture.

The defense held opponents to fewer than 310 yards just once in the first half of the season, a major reason why the Steelers took a 2-6 record into the bye. In a second-half resurgence, the defense has done it six times in the past seven games — five of them victories that have pushed the Steelers to the brink of .500 at 7-8 and kept them mathematically alive for a wild-card berth.

Such resolve doesn’t surprise free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who recently was named to the Pro Bowl for the third time in five seasons.

“As professionals, that’s what you’re supposed to do,” Fitzpatrick said Monday as the Steelers returned from a Christmas Day respite to begin preparations for the Baltimore Ravens. “You’re never supposed to count yourself out. You’re never supposed to walk with your head down. You’re supposed to carry yourself as a professional. That means taking pride in everything you do.

“Whether you’re 0-10 or 10-0, you’re supposed to carry yourself the same.”

The return of reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt after the bye week helped solidify a defense that sprung a Titanic-sized leak in his absence. Who can forget the Buffalo Bills putting up 552 yards in a 38-3 defeat that was the most lopsided in coach Mike Tomlin’s 16 seasons? Or Jalen Hurts throwing four long touchdown passes and the Philadelphia Eagles dominating the secondary in a 35-13 loss heading into the break?

It wasn’t what was expected from a defense — one that is the highest-paid in the NFL — that was supposed to be the backbone of the Steelers after the retirement of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

“Let’s be honest: We’ve been pretty clear that if we were going to do something in this season, that they had to play like that,” Tomlin said after the defense dominated the final three quarters Saturday in a 13-10 win against the Las Vegas Raiders.

“They’re the more senior group. They’ve got the more established players. Not that we don’t appreciate it, but it’s expected.”

Expectations began to be met when the players returned from the bye. Aside from the Cincinnati Bengals putting up 408 yards in a 37-30 win that dropped the Steelers’ record to 3-7, the defense hasn’t allowed more than 309 in a game in the second half of the season.

Consider that in the wins at Carolina and at home against Las Vegas, the Steelers defense allowed 410 net yards over eight quarters — or 10 more than the Bills amassed against them in two earlier in the year.

“It’s people just doing their job play-in and play-out,” Fitzpatrick said. “That’s what wins games and allows you to play good defense. It’s not people doing extra or stepping outside your bounds. It’s everybody doing their job.

“Those extra plays come along as you get a feel for the game.”

The extra plays that Fitzpatrick referenced were three interceptions of Raiders quarterback Derek Carr in the second half. Fitzpatrick, Arthur Maulet and Cameron Sutton did the honors, giving the Steelers an NFL-high 17 interceptions this season.

After the Raiders drove 72 yards for a touchdown on the opening possession, the defense allowed 129 yards the rest of the way. The Raiders managed just a field goal over their final nine drives.

“I felt like the first drive was scripted very well for them,” Maulet said, “and they had success on it, but after that, they kept showing what they showed on film, so we just calmed down and played Steelers defense.”

The Steelers’ No. 18 ranking remains in the bottom half of the NFL, yet it is their highest position of the season. And the Steelers remain sixth in defending the run, holding the Panthers and Raiders to a combined 79 yards rushing.

Of course, the Ravens put up 215 against the Steelers just three weeks ago. And that was while the Ravens played with second- and third-string quarterbacks, which could be the case again Sunday if former NFL MVP Lamar Jackson doesn’t return from injury.

“Smashing the run is one of the things we didn’t do well in that game,” Fitzpatrick said. “We’ve been doing a good job of that the last couple of weeks. We have to carry that over to this game.”