Steelers' lack of splash afflicts offense, defense in loss to Dolphins

No sacks. No interceptions. For all of the good the Pittsburgh Steelers defense did over the final three quarters of a 16-10 loss Sunday night to the Miami Dolphins, it failed to make the type of splash plays that coach Mike Tomlin expects from his group.

Again.

Not only didn’t the Steelers get a sack against Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in his return after a two-game absence, they hit him just one time.

Sound familiar? That was the script the Steelers defense wrote two games earlier at Buffalo when Josh Allen was hit once and never sacked.

It also marked the third time in six games that the Steelers failed to get a sack in a game. Not coincidentally, all six games have been played without reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt.

“We’ve gotta make those plays if we want to call ourselves a good defense,” inside linebacker Devin Bush said. “I’m not blaming anybody, but you have to make those plays.”

Bush was addressing the defense in totality and not specifically the lack of sacks. His words also pertained to the absence of turnovers. Since the Steelers had four interceptions in the season-opening win at Cincinnati, they’ve gotten four in the past six games.

Related:

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• Madden Monday on Steelers' defeat in Miami: 'I thought (Kenny) Pickett lost the game'

On Sunday, in his much-publicized return from multiple concussions, Tagovailoa had four of his 35 pass attempts find members of the Steelers secondary. But cornerback Levi Wallace dropped two potential interceptions, and cornerback Cam Sutton and strong safety Terrell Edmunds also couldn’t hold on to picks.

“We definitely have to take advantage of them because it could be a turning point in the game,” Edmunds said.

The Dolphins’ defense didn’t have such issues holding onto the ball. In the second quarter, when receiver Chase Claypool got tangled on a deep route, cornerback Justin Bethel was there to make the interception. It set up a field goal that put the Steelers in a 10-0 deficit.

The Steelers’ final two drives also ended on interceptions by rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett. Jevon Holland ended a drive with 2 minutes, 57 seconds left with an interception at the Miami 18 that he returned to midfield. And the Dolphins sealed the win with 18 seconds left when Noah Igbinoghene intercepted Pickett in the end zone.

“We didn’t make enough splash plays on both sides of the ball to win that game,” defensive captain Cameron Heyward said. “It came down to the end, and you’re beating your head because you had so many opportunities to seize the moment.”

The Steelers’ defense also didn’t have any interceptions — and just two sacks — a week earlier while deploying a patchwork secondary in a 20-18 victory against Tampa Bay. This time, the Steelers had Minkah Fitzpatrick, Wallace and Sutton back from injury.

The difference was the Steelers didn’t turn it over, either.

“We’ve got all the pieces we need,” Fitzpatrick said. “We have to go out and execute.”

Slow starters on offense, the Steelers also needed a quarter to gain any rhythm on defense. By that time, Tagovailoa had staked the Dolphins to a 13-0 lead. He opened the game with a nine-play, 71-yard touchdown drive and led the Dolphins to field goals on their next two possessions.

“We knew he would come out and play the quick-ball game and get the ball out quick,” Fitzpatrick said. “They didn’t want him to get beat up. We had to make adjustments to what they were doing.”

At the end of the quarter, the Steelers had allowed 165 yards. They permitted 207 the rest of the way, including 126 yards and four first downs after halftime.

“We’re a special defense, and we are capable of a lot of things,” said inside linebacker Myles Jack, who led the Steelers with 10 tackles. “We got to start out stronger, you know what I mean? … The story of the day today was just starting out strong that first quarter. It started out crazy, but then we got it together.”

That theme carried over to the offense. At the end of the first quarter, the Steelers had 35 yards, one first down and zero points. The pattern continued when the Steelers returned after halftime. In the third quarter, the offense generated 48 yards, two first downs and no points.

Contrast that to the second and fourth quarters when the Steelers combined for 258 yards, 16 first downs and their only 10 points.

Heading into their game next weekend at Philadelphia, the NFL’s only unbeaten team at 6-0, the Steelers rank No. 31 in points, averaging 15.3 per game. Only the Denver Broncos have scored fewer.

“I feel like I’ve heard it every week: How close are we?” wide receiver Chase Claypool said. “I think it’s too late in the season to be close to anything. If we’re close, we have to get there next week.”