How the Steelers get back to the superbowl in 2021

Turnovers and penalties

If you expand to all defensive turnovers, the same thing occurs. From 2001-2010 Pittsburgh had 291 takeaways averaging 29.10 per year and 1.81 per game. Narrowing that to the span, Roethlisberger was quarterback; it still stayed consistent with 202 takeaways averaging 28.85 per season and 1.74 per game. In 2011 that all changed.

In the 10 seasons since they faced Greenbay in the Superbowl, the Steelers have only had 134 interceptions averaging 13.4 a season and .83 per game. Expand that to all takeaways; they have 231 since 2011, only averaging 23.1 a season and 1.44 per game. That’s a considerable decrease. In the ten-year span that the Steelers made the Superbowl, the defense gave the offense more chances to score. Since 2011 the defense has produced fewer turnovers and not giving the Steelers offense more scoring opportunities. Thus even the defense has forced Roethlisberger to do more as they have done less.

Also, since 2011 the Steelers have gotten more sloppy as a team in terms of penalties. Since drafting Roethlisberger through 2010, the Steelers had 680 penalties averaging 5.86 per game and 97.14 per year. Going back to 2001, they still only had a total of 915 penalties averaging 91.5 per year and 5.71 a game. Since 2011 Pittsburgh have had 986  penalties for 98.6 a year and committing 6.16 infractions a game. As a team, they have done more to prevent themselves from winning. The end a result? No Superbowl appearances in that stretch.