3 reasons the Pittsburgh Steelers are the best team in the NFL right now

The whole team works in such good concert with itself, it is downright scary

Before I get into the offense and defense for the Pittsburgh Steelers, I have to talk about how great this team is at complementing each other. When the offense is taking care of the ball and keeps the defense off of the field, the defense stays rested and has been able to close out games better. It isn’t perfect yet. However, it is making the black and gold look even scarier for every other team in the NFL.

The Steelers have increased their average time of possession by a whole 5 minutes and 5 seconds going from 2019–2020. This may not sound like a lot. Yet, you have to consider 2 main reasons why the increase isn’t higher. First, the Steelers have been playing predominantly run-based teams. Their Week 7 opponent rosters, Derrick Henry who is getting the most rushing attempts in the league of anyone RB. They’ve also had to deal with Saquon Barkley, Kareem Hunt, and Melvin Gordon, so the majority of their matchups so far have been against run-first teams. Even if you aren’t able to get a lot of first downs, running the ball can make a 5 play drive last minutes longer than a 6 or 7 play drive comprised of all passes.

The second reason has to deal with the fact that Pittsburgh has been generating fewer turnovers in 2020 than they did in 2019. The Steelers had an insane 15 through their first 6 games in 2019. Through their first 6 games of 2020, they have only generated 9. I’m not saying this won’t improve. But even with the defense not being able to grant their offense as many extra possessions. They have still seen an increase in the average time of possession. That is helping the defense play better in the second half, which is why blitzburgh has been able to thwart comeback attempts throughout this season.

Not only has the offense been helping the defense some, the special teams have been marginally better in 2020. Ray-Ray McCloud has given Pittsburgh a talented return specialist. The return game on kickoffs is vastly improved. McCloud has set the Steelers up with great field position on multiple occasions this season and is averaging over 18 yards a return on punts and 26 yards on kickoffs. To put that in perspective, Ryan Switzer averaged 3.6 yards a return on punts in 2019 before relinquishing his job to Diontae Johnson, and 18.4 yards on kickoffs. There is a substantial difference in the ability to maintain field position now thanks to the new return game and that is making a big difference for the Steelers as well.

With the defense setting up the return game with long punts, and the return game setting up the offense with great returns, this is also the Pittsburgh Steelers the edge in the field position battle, which can make the difference in big games against other elite teams.