Pittsburgh’s offense against the New Orleans Saints wasn’t some flashy air show, it was a full-on cement truck, straight up. The Steelers absolutely mauled New Orleans on the ground, out-rushing them 148-18 and averaging just under five yards per carry. That kind of ground dominance wasn’t just for show either; it powered the Steelers to a 16-10 win, keeping them at a rock-solid 5-2 record and, crucially, in first place in their division.
Third Down Struggles? What Third Down Struggles?
This is where the real shocker is, people. Pittsburgh rolled into Week 7 as the NFL’s worst team on third down in terms of EPA per play, and they were sitting at a dismal 28th in conversion percentage. I mean, ouch, right? But Sunday? Forget all that. They flipped the script completely, converting a season-high 10 third downs on 16 attempts. We’re talking about a massive turnaround! The biggest play of the whole game came on a wild 3rd-and-14 when Aaron Rodgers extended the play and somehow found DK Metcalf for a massive 51-yard completion. You know what that set up? A Darnell Washington touchdown, that’s what. That’s the kind of clutch play you need to see.
Ground Game Paves the Way for Long Drives
That dominant run game wasn’t just about yardage, it was about controlling the whole dang game. Out-rushing the Saints 148-18, at nearly five yards a pop, meant Pittsburgh often faced manageable third downs, averaging under six yards on third down plays, per Sumer Sports. And guess what? They leaned into it. Before this game, Pittsburgh never ran the ball on third down more than three times in a game this season. Against the Saints, they ran it seven times, converting six of those into first downs. That more than doubled their previous season-high for third-down rushes converted. This ground-and-pound approach let them establish monster drives of eight, 13, 11, 14, and 11 plays, and they only had one three-and-out all day, a huge improvement from the five they had against the Buccaneers.
Sure, Aaron Rodgers admitted there were points left on the board. They got into the red zone twice and had to settle for field goals, and another drive stalled at the Saints’ 29-yard line, also ending in a field goal. But let’s be real, seeing those missed opportunities while you’re 5-2 and sitting pretty in first place in the division? That’s way better than picking apart a loss. The scoreboard might not scream “blowout,” but the way they got there, with a killer run game, crazy third-down success, and relentless long drives? That’s beautiful football. That’s how you build an efficient offense, and if you can do that consistently, you can legitimately beat just about anyone.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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