With Packers at Pittsburgh, Steelers Overcoming One Crazy Stat

The Pittsburgh Steelers, somehow, are 5-3 despite being outplayed on both sides of the ball throughout the season.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Nov 9, 2023 10:11 PM EST

In this story:

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Only one team has been outgained in every game this season.

No, it’s not the offense-impaired Green Bay Packers. Nor is it the one-win Arizona Cardinals or Carolina Panthers, or the last-in-scoring New England Patriots or New York Giants.

It’s the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are 5-3 headed into Sunday’s game against the visiting Packers.

It’s a rather incredible feat. In total, 21 teams have been outgained in at least four games. None have a record of better than .500. The Packers are 0-4. The Rams, whom they just beat, also are 0-4.

And yet, the Steelers don’t just have a winning record. If the season were to end today, they’d have the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs.

The Steelers rank 31st in the NFL in yardage differential, having been outgained by 98.8 yards per game. In Week 2, they were outgained by 153 yards but beat the Browns 26-22.

Offensively, the Steelers are 29th in total yards with 278.5 per game. They are 25th in rushing (90.5 yards per game), despite the one-two punch of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren in the backfield, and 25th in passing (188.0 yards per game), despite the high-quality tandem of George Pickens and Diontae Johnson at receiver.

The Packers stop Najee Harris at Lambeau Field in 2021.
Photo by Jeff Hanisch/USA Today Sports Images

“Honestly, I didn’t know a lot about him until you really start playing someone and focusing on them,” defensive coordinator Joe Barry said of Warren, who is averaging 4.7 yards per carry and is second on the team with 29 receptions. “I think Najee is a great back and this guy’s a heck of a complement.”

Despite the presence of T.J. Watt and some other high-profile veterans, the renowned Steelers defense is 31st in yards allowed per game (377.3), including 29th against the run (133.1) and 25th against the pass (244.1).

“They really challenge you across the board and you have to beat them. They’re not going to beat themselves,” offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said.

So, how on earth are the Steelers 5-3 despite losing rather handily on both sides of the ball? Turnovers. The Steelers are third in the league at plus-8, thanks in large part to their third-ranked 16 takeaways.

“He’s always looking for the ball at all times,” quarterback Jordan Love said of Watt. “That’s their defense. They do a good job of creating some chaos.”

The Steelers are the only team with a winning record that’s been outscored. Pittsburgh is minus-30; its five wins have all been by one score. The Packers are the only team with a losing record that has outscored its opponents, though it’s only plus-1.