The Pittsburgh Steelers showed defensive improvement for the second consecutive week. However, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the offense are now struggling to find their rhythm.
In Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts, the Steelers’ offense capitalized on six takeaways created by the defense and special teams. But without any takeaways in Week 10 versus the Los Angeles Chargers, Rodgers and the Steelers managed just 10 points. Pittsburgh didn’t score its first touchdown until the 2:57 mark of the fourth quarter.
The Steelers offense produced just 221 total yards and converted only 2 of 11 third-down attempts. They also failed on their only fourth-down try.
After the game, Rodgers was critical of both his own performance and the overall offensive display. “Our defense played really well tonight, and offensively, we were pretty bad,” Rodgers told reporters. “So, we got to find a way to get open on third down. I got to find a way to hit them because that was just some bad ball.”
### Third-Down Struggles
The Steelers are currently 7-for-33 (21.2%) on third-down conversions over their past three games. During their last two losses, they are an even more disappointing 3-for-21 (14.3%) on third downs.
There were several issues with the offense in Week 10. Early in the game, Rodgers missed a few key throws, but the third-down problems are becoming a concerning pattern. Coming into Sunday, the Steelers were ranked 18th in third-down conversion percentage. However, their performance is now rapidly declining.
Part of the problem is that the offense is frequently facing third-and-long situations. The Steelers’ current offensive unit is simply not built to convert those longer third-downs. When the team commits a penalty or takes a sack on first or second down, it becomes nearly impossible to recover on third down.
### Challenges for the Receiving Corps
Wide receiver D.K. Metcalf, the Steelers’ WR1, is seeing double coverage in many games. With so much defensive attention focused on Metcalf, other wide receivers need to step up and create separation to give Rodgers reliable options. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been happening consistently.
With the NFL trade deadline now passed, the Steelers will need players like Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson to elevate their play, especially on crucial third-down situations. While not directly impacting third-down conversion rates, both Austin and Wilson have contributed turnovers in recent games. For example, Austin had a crucial pass bounce off his hands Sunday night that led to an interception.
The Steelers’ offense must find solutions quickly if they want to improve their third-down efficiency and overall scoring ability moving forward.
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