In the Sunday 20-12 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, the Pittsburgh Steelers defense managed to do something that they hadn’t done ii some time as they sacked quarterback Alex Smith six times in the game.
Entering Sunday, the Steelers defense had only recorded 24 sacks through their first 14 games and thus they were in danger of finishing the 2014 season with their lowest regular-season sack total dating back to 1988 when they recorded 19.
The last time the Steelers defense recorded six sacks in a regular-season was in 2012 when they sacked Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton six times in a 13-10 Week 16 win.
The Chiefs offense had given up six sacks in a game twice already this season entering Week 16.
On Sunday, linebacker Jason Worilds was credited with two sacks of Smith while linebacker James Harrison and defensive end Cameron Heyward were both credited with 1.5 sacks each in the game. Rookie defensive end Stephon Tuitt also notched his first-career quarterback takedown in the game as well.
The Steelers will get a chance to add to their sack total of 30 next Sunday against the Bengals and they’ll need five more Dalton takedowns to exceed last year’s regular season total of 34.
