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Was the 2019 Steelers season a success or a failure?

By Eric Hassel

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 22: Brian Poole #34 of the New York Jets and JuJu Smith-Schuster #19 of the Pittsburgh Steelers watch as the pass to Smith-Schuster falls incomplete during the second half of the game at MetLife Stadium on December 22, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The New York Jets won 16-10. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 22: Brian Poole #34 of the New York Jets and JuJu Smith-Schuster #19 of the Pittsburgh Steelers watch as the pass to Smith-Schuster falls incomplete during the second half of the game at MetLife Stadium on December 22, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The New York Jets won 16-10. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 29: Outside linebacker T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on against the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 29: Outside linebacker T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on against the Baltimore Ravens during the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

The Steelers ‘D’ was the shining star during the 2019 season

The Steelers ‘D’ finished the 2019 season ranked 5th in total defense, having given up an average of 304.1 yards per game.  Considering we were 1-4 after 5 games and struggling to gain traction, the defense started to gel and turned the season around for us. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say this:  Had it not been for the exceptional play of the defense more times than not, we would have suffered the first losing season under Mike Tomlin.

Not only did the defense finish in top 5 in average yards per game, but we also finished 3rd in average passing yards allowed, 14th in average rushing yards allowed, 1st in total sacks generated, 5th in average points allowed, 6th in total TDs surrendered and 2nd in total INTs generated.

To me, the above statistics illustrate the success of the defense during the 2019 campaign.  That success culminated in three players being named to the Pro Bowl with one more recently added.  The players who will be representing the defense are as follows:  T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, Minkah Fitzpatrick and, most recently named to the Pro Bowl was Joe Haden.

So for a team that finished the 2019 season with an 8-8 record, to have four defensive players named to the Pro Bowl is pretty darn good, if you ask me. What is also pretty darn good is the fact that after giving up 33 points and 465 total yards to the Patriots in the first game of the season, the defense found its footing and never gave more than 28 points for the rest of the season.

The Steelers salvaged the 2019 season but came up short in the end

After starting the 2019 season with 1 win and 4 losses, it looked like it was going to be a ‘lost’ season, but the Steelers were able to regroup and put us in a position to have a shot at making the playoffs. We came up short of that goal, in the end, but to even be talking about a playoff run after the start the Steelers had is nothing short of amazing.

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So, let’s answer the question that was thrown out there at the beginning of the discussion:  Was the Steelers season a success or a failure?  I would say that the 2019 season was a successful failure. I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but there were successful aspects of the season as well as failures.  I will leave it up to you to make your own decision about the 2019 Steelers season.

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