Third time is a charm as Steelers improve to 3-0

By defeating the Los Angeles Chargers 20-10 last Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers improved their record to 3-0 on the season. This marks the 10th time in team history that a season began for the Black and Gold with three straight victories. While the game in Pittsburgh last weekend resulted in only 20 points for the Steelers, a win is a win correct?

With only three touchdowns produced by the offense thus far in 2024, the last time a team had three or fewer touchdowns with a 3-0 start was the Buffalo Bills who had those kind of results way back in 1988. That season Buffalo reached the Super Bowl. As for the Steelers, the last 3-0 start was four years ago, and the team lost in the wild card round of the playoffs.

You have to go back 10 more years for the last 3-0 start in 2010 when the team reached the Super Bowl but lost to Green Bay. Only in 1936 did the team win the first three and fail to make the postseason. Included in those 10 3-0 starts are two Super Bowl victories, they coming back-to-back in 1978 and 1979. In Indianapolis next Sunday, if the Steelers can knock off the Colts it will be only the fifth time the team has started with four straight wins. The last time was also in 2020, and they did it as well in 1973, 1978, and 1979. Each of the four previous hot starts at 4-0 culminated in a playoff appearance and as indicated above, two Lombardi Trophies.

As for the latest victory, the Chargers came into the game as one of the AFC’s most highly regarded teams. However, Justin Herbert was nursing a bum ankle that flared up on him in the third quarter forcing his exit from the game. The game was knotted at 10 at that point but once again, the mighty Steelers defense controlled the game. One of the NFL’s most dangerous runners to date has been J.K. Dobbins who rushed for 266 yards in the first two games.

Pittsburgh’s rush defense had been a weakness in recent seasons but not on this day. They held Dobbins to just 44 yards rushing and a 2.9 per carry average. As a team Los Angeles rushed for only 61 yards. Justin Herbert didn’t really wow anyone and perhaps it was his injured ankle. Either way, he was 12 of 18 for 125 yards. He was also sacked twice. As for their defense, Bud Dupree, a former Steeler, came up with the Chargers’ only interception but there was no room for bragging as his team lost the game.

On Pittsburgh’s offense, Justin Fields certainly outplayed Herbert. A 25 of 32 day for 245 yards passing with one touchdown pass and the only other scored in the end zone coming by way of Fields’ feet. Fields continues to improve with each game and when he was a Bear, the knock on him was turnovers. He isn’t doing that now wearing Black and Gold and last Sunday he was picked off once which really was not a bad interception, and then sacked twice. But he managed the game well, played smart, and was the engineer of Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith’s ground and pound philosophy. 

For the third straight game, the Steelers won the time of possession battle (33:51 to 26:09). The defense held Los Angeles to just 10 first downs while our offense created 20. Pittsburgh’s penalties were way down with just three while the ‘Bolts committed seven. There were no fumbles by either side and only that one interception by Fields. The Steelers were 50% successful on their third down attempts, 14 in all, whereas the Chargers could only convert three of 11.

In the backfield Najee Harris added 70 more yards to his season total putting him in 12th place overall. He has yet to reach the end zone but that should not be a concern as long as the team keeps winning. As far as the receiving corps go, Justin Fields spread the ball around magnificently. To many fans’ surprise, the leading receiver was Calvin Austin who had an electrifying 55-yard catch and run for a score. His speed was obvious as he beat the defenders in the race to the end zone. 

Austin added three more receptions to lead the day with 95 yards. Number one receiver George Pickens had the second-best numbers with five receptions and 57 yards including a 27-yarder. Others catching a pass from Fields were Pat Freiermuth (4-33), Scotty Miller (2-31), Harris (5-16), Cordarrelle Patterson (3-150, Connor Heyward (1-2), and Jaylen Warren came out of the backfield to catch a pass that he lost four yards on.

Let’s turn to that Black and Gold defense. After week three the Steelers are leading the NFL in yard yielded per game with a mark of 229.7 19 yards better than second place Seattle. The Steelers are third in turnovers with four trailing Green Bay who is at the top with seven. Pittsburgh is fifth in passing yards allowed at 158.3 where the Seahawks are at the top with a number of 132.3. But in stopping the run, the Steelers are doing the job. As we head into week four, Pittsburgh ranks fourth giving up just 71.3 yards per game trailing the Baltimore Ravens at the top who thus far are allowing opponents just 50 yards per game.

The amazing Steelers defense has also put up more impressive numbers. They are first in fewest first downs permitted giving up just 38 three ahead of the Chargers they just defeated. Pittsburgh also has the best percentage of stopping third down conversion attempts stopping opponents 25 times on 32 attempts or a 21.9% rate.

On offense, the numbers differ drastically from the ‘D. On total offense Pittsburgh is nowhere near the top. In passing offense, the Steelers are fourth from the bottom. Rushing the ball finds Pittsburgh in 12th place currently. With receiving the Steelers are 30th overall. But the bottom line for Mike Tomlin and Steelers Nation is easily said in one word…VICTORIES.

Going back to the victory over the Chargers, the score could have very easily been 27-10 but Tomlin decided not to punch the ball in when he saw his offense in the red zone near the end of the game. Chris Boswell also missed a rare field goal so essentially this game could have finished at 30-10. Hats off though to punter Corliss Waltman filling in for the injured Cameron Johnston. The newly signed Johnston had his season ended with an injury, so Waltman was signed to replace him. He has done nothing but shined. 

Against Los Angeles, Waltman punted the ball three times, and his average was 52 yards per boot. His long was 56 and he placed one inside the 20. You can ask for more than that and for the home opener, the weather was beautiful, and 66,734 fans watched their team move to 3-0 with only the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, and Seattle Seahawks also remaining undefeated. 

In week four as indicated it is the Steelers and Colts, Vikings at Green Bay, Chiefs are playing these same Chargers on the road, and Buffalo travels to Baltimore. Someone’s OH must GO! I am going to go with the Steelers on the road, the Packers at home, the Chargers to upset Kansas City (but maybe a change if Herbert can’t play), and the Ravens/Bills game is a tossup. My gut says Baltimore at home, but the Bills are playing so well. 

Here is something to think about. Mike Tomlin is attempting to have his 18th straight winning season at .500 or better. With the 3-0 start and 14 games remining, not to accomplish that would mean the Pittsburgh Steelers would need to lose nine of the final 14 games to be under .500 or more simply, post a record of 5-9. To get to .500 or better at a minimum we are talking 6-8. I strongly believe they will win much more than six of the final 14.

Just look at the remaining schedule and then tell me they are going to lose most of these games:

• Colts. Very winnable game given our defense and the suspect Anthony Richardson calling plays for Indianapolis. 

• Cowboys. You’ve seen how Dallas is playing and after one blowout they were getting their doors blown off by Baltimore before the Ravens defense caved. This game is in the ‘Burgh and should be a win.

• Raiders. A road game against a team that has yet to figure themselves out. Unless the Steelers fall on their collective faces…victory.

• Jets. This game is a Sunday night nationally televised game, and you know how Tomlin loves these games and prepares for them. I can’t wait to see this defense line up against Aaron Rodgers. The game is at home and Pittsburgh has a very impressive record against the Jets. Right now, I say this is a win.

• Giants. One week later the Steelers get the other New York team who surprised many with a win in week three but that won’t be the case here. Another win.

• Commanders. At this point if I’m correct about all the previous games, the Steelers may very well be undefeated still. That means coming to this game 8-0 and in 2020 Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers won their first 11 games and went into Washington to play “The Washington Football Team” because of covid they hadn’t decided on a new nickname after surrendering the name Redskins. The ‘Skins knocked of the Steelers 23-17 and took them out of being undefeated. Do you think Mike Tomlin doesn’t remember that? Will it happen again? Possibly. I won’t be surprised if Pittsburgh is 8-0 and loses. 

• Ravens. This is the point that all the experts were predicting in the preseason would be the start of a collapse for the Steelers. First up is division rival Baltimore and when playing at home the Steelers give the Ratbirds fits. These two will probably split the series to this one goes to the Black and Gold.

• Browns. On the road, unless Cleveland turns their act around, this one belongs to the Steelers.

• Bengals. Another road game, my instinct says this will be a loss. All teams are going to lose a game or two or more and Pittsburgh is not going to go undefeated so surely, they might lose one of the above, but this will most likely be an “L.”

• Browns. Very weird is that the Steelers are facing the Browns in Ohio then travel within the state to face the Bengals, and then a week later then come back home for another matchup with Cleveland. Who made this schedule anyway? This should be yet another AFC North win.

• Eagles. The battle for Pennsylvania will be a doozy. By this time Eagles Head Coach Nick Siriani might not even be on the sidelines depending on how Philly’s season has gone thus far. Pittsburgh has two difficult games back-to-back, and it could be imaginable that they lose both here and the next one.

• Ravens. In Baltimore we’ll say the Steelers drop a close one.

• Chiefs. This will be fun to watch. At this early stage of the season both teams are unbeaten, and Pittsburgh is by far playing much better. Fasten your seatbelts fans.

• Bengals. The season ends with this game at home and chances are either or both teams are resting starters in preparation for the playoffs. If the Steelers need this win, Mike Tomlin will have his troops at full speed and with all starters. 

So, with all that said, I see Pittsburgh finishing the season 12-5 or 11-6. I hope I’m right but for now it’s the Colts next and the hope that we don’t see a loss on the Steelers record, at least not yet.