Pittsburgh Steelers: 5 things we learned in win over Baltimore

BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 04: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers throws the ball in the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 04: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers throws the ball in the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
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BALTIMORE, MD – NOVEMBER 04: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers scores a touchdown in the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – NOVEMBER 04: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers scores a touchdown in the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)

Sneaky Good at Sacks

The Steelers are sneaky good at sacks. They don’t have a reputation as a sack heavy team like they did in the 2000s but they’re racking them up consistently this season. They currently have 26 sacks for the season, tied for 4th in the NFL. And here’s an interesting stat: not a single game this season has their opponent sacked Ben more than the defense has sacked the opposing quarterback. Even the rough early going, they still outperformed opponents in sacks.

The reason it flies under the radar is partially due to a middling defense (which is much improved and many have not realized it yet), but also how spread out the sacks are. T.J. Watt has 7, a good showing, then 3.5 from Dupree, 3 from Hargrave and Tuitt, 2.5 from Heyward and Bostic, 1.5 from Williams, and 1 each from Fort, Chickillo, and McCullers. Point is, it’s a flat pyramid but it’s a big one.

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