Lots of terrible and weird stats from today’s loss. Let’s get into it.
– Start with the heavy hitters. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense took the ball away five times today. The last time they did that and lost? 1981, a 30-27 loss to Oakland (also a West Coast trip). Like today, the Steelers’ offense coughed it up just twice.
– Pittsburgh had won their previous 37 games when creating 5+ turnovers.
– Last team in the NFL to have 5+ takeaways and lose? The 2016 San Diego Chargers.
– The Steelers defense recorded five turnovers for the first time since Week 2 in 2010, a 19-11 win over the Tennessee Titans. The game where Antonio Brown scored his first career TD. Just to put in perspective how long it’s been.
– For only the fifth time in the Chuck Noll era, the Steelers began the year 0-3. The years with their final records below:
2013: 8-8
2000: 9-7
1986: 6-10
1970: 5-9
Right now, it’ll feel like a minor miracle just to reach five wins.
– The Steelers’ offense went 3-12 on third down, making them 9-35 for the season. That’s 25.7%. Through three games, it’s their worst third down percentage since 1991, as far back as Pro Football Reference tracks. The previous low was 26.3%, set in 2010.
– Pittsburgh ran just 51 plays today. Compare that to the 49ers’ 73. That means the defense was on the field 58.9% of the time.
– The Steelers have scored just 16 first half points. It’s their fewest since 2000, when they also had just 16 and began the year 0-3.
– JuJu Smith-Schuster did at least have a positive moment. His 76 yard run and catch marks the 4th 75+ yard receiving touchdown in his career. That’s second most in franchise history, trailing only Louis Lipps’ five. Before today, he was tied with Martavis Bryant and Mike Wallace.
– There were some big plays that ended drives in a positive way, but the Steelers average offensive drive on its 13 possessions today? 1:50 seconds.
– On 35 drives in 2019, the Steelers have just four of them lasting 4+ minutes.
– When attempting at least four punts in a game, Jordan Berry’s 52.3 yard average was a career best, besting his previous high of 51, done twice.
