Chris Boswell’s amazing season overshadowed by Steelers offensive woes
By Tommy Jaggi
Chris Boswell was fantastic for the Steelers this season, but here’s why his 2019 campaign will be overshadowed by poor offensive play.
The Steelers offense was torturous to watch this season. When Ben Roethlisberger first went down, Mason Rudolph showed promise moving the ball through the air. However, defenses soon had him figured out.
Devlin Hodges closed the season as the Steelers starting quarterback, but things didn’t get any better. Pittsburgh finished 27th in the league in points per game (18.1), and they were the worst in the National Football League over their last three contests – managing just 10 points in each game.
While Pittsburgh’s defense was fantastic this season, their sloppy offense and inability to put points on the board stole the show and captured the attention of the media.
Lost in all of this discussion is Chris Boswell. The 2017 Pro Bowl kicker may have had a down season last year, but he was brilliant in 2019. Boswell knocked home 29 of 31 field goals this season and was a perfect 28 of 28 on extra-point attempts. His 93.5 field goal percentage was third in the league among all kickers will at least 10 attempts – falling just short of Jacksonville’s Josh Lambo and Baltimore’s Justin Tucker.
The Steelers may have considered cutting Boswell after making just 65 percent of his kicks a season ago, but a hefty contract made that scenario nearly impossible. Luckily, Boswell bounced back to reclaim his status as one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL.
What’s so frustrating is Pittsburgh’s pathetic offense in 2019. Not only did they have one of the best defensive units in the league aiding them, they also had one of the NFL’s most accurate kickers this season.
Unfortunately, their inability to move the chains meant fewer opportunities for the Steelers. Kickers can inconsistent from year-to-year, and much of the game is mental. There is little doubt that the Steelers will be able to put more points on the board next season, but it’s unclear whether or not Boswell can maintain the incredible accuracy we saw from him this season.
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With a defense that is already established and Ben Roethlisberger set to return to action in 2020, it would be a treat for the Steelers if Boswell can repeat his dominant performance again next season.