Despite loss, Steelers game produces odd stats as usual
The Steelers loss on Sunday night to the Chargers while disappointing, was not all that surprising considering their history with the AFC West.
The Steelers have never had a perfect record facing the AFC West, especially in Sunday night primetime games. When facing the Chargers on Sunday nights, the Steelers dropped to 2-4. Against Denver, they are 0-3 and 0-1 against the Raiders. Overall, against AFC West opponents in Sunday night games, they are 5-8 and only 2-2 at home.
The only AFC West team, the Steelers, have had any success against on Sunday Night are the Chiefs. The Steelers are 3-0 against Kansas City in Sunday night matchups.
On the Ground
Justin Herbert’s 90 rushing yards are the most rushing yards allowed by the Steelers to a quarterback since Terrelle Pryor accomplished the feat in a loss to Oakland in 2013. The Steelers defense has only allowed a quarterback to rush for 90 plus yards five times and it’s only the third time since 1997. That is not the most they have ever allowed.
The most rushing yards they ever gave up to a quarterback was 129, in which Philadelphia’s quarterback Jack Concannon rushed for in 1966. Also, the Steelers are 0-5 when a quarterback has rushed for 90 or more yards.
Through the Air
Not only did Herbert burn Pittsburgh on the ground, but he also managed it through the air as well. Justin Herbert’s performance of 374 passing yards is the most allowed this season by the Steelers, and the second time they have allowed 370 plus passing yards as the Raiders passed for 373 in week two. The Most the Steelers have allowed is 414, which Arizona passed for in 2015.
Besides Justin Herbert, only two other quarterbacks have rushed for more than 50 yards and passed for at least 300 plus yards against the Steelers. The other two quarterbacks are Colin Kaepernick, who did it in 2015, and Kizer DeShone for Cleveland in 2017. However, the Steelers are 2-1 when a quarterback has done this.
Odder Yet
When a team passes more than 370 yards, you would think most opponents might be on the losing side giving up that many yards; however, the Steelers have a 10-10 record when teams pass for 370 yards or more.
Cardiac Kids
Despite the loss, the Steelers thrilled fans by keeping the game close and coming close to pulling off a big upset after being down by 17 late in the game. The Steelers’ 27 4th quarter points are the third most they have ever scored in the fourth quarter. The most they scored in the 4th quarter was 28, which they did twice in 1986 against the Jets and 1952 against the Giants.
It’s the second most they have ever scored in the 4th quarter on a Sunday night game; the last one on a Sunday primetime game was in 2017 when they scored 19 and beat the Ravens 39-38.
However, Sunday’s 27 points are the most they have scored when trailing their opponent by at least 20 or more points in the fourth quarter.
More Bizarre
The Steelers in team history have scored 15 plus points in the 4th quarter 18 times, and seven of those games have all come against AFC North opponents dating back to 1969. Also, they have scored 15 or more in the fourth quarter against the Chargers twice in a 37-34 loss in 1994.
MIA
In case you missed it, Najee Harris only had 12 rushes Sunday night. As a result, Pittsburgh lost. They have not lost a game yet this year when he has rushed at least 13 times or more. Although, Najee had to be examined by physicians for a concussion, which diminished his playing time.
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Next week Pittsburgh has another AFC North matchup as they face the Bengals for the second time this season. Usually, anything can and will happen in those divisional contests, so one can expect any number of odd stats to arise next week as well.