What we learned from Steelers gritty win versus the Carolina Panthers

The Pittsburgh Steelers gutted out a road win versus the Carolina Panthers in Week 15. Here’s what we learned from the game. 

The Steelers played a ‘gritty’ game on the road against the Carolina Panthers.  We scored points on offense, we were stout against the run on defense, we dominated the time of possession and, as a result, we exited Bank of America Stadium with a victory.

As has been the theme all season, the game was not perfect.  The Steelers were highly penalized, as Mike Tomlin would say, but despite those penalties, we got the win, and frankly, that’s all that matters.  Had the game gone the other way, that would obviously not be my sentiment.

Let’s see what we learned on offense.

The Steelers running game finally resembled the running game of yesteryear

According to ESPN, we ran the ball forty-five times for one-hundred and fifty-six yards.  Considering we attempted twenty-two passes and completed seventeen of those passes for one hundred and sixty-nine yards, I would say that the game against the Panthers embodied a balanced offense.

We averaged almost five yards per play and converted seventy-five percent on third down, this was certainly one of the best offensive performances of the season. That begs this question: where has this type of balanced ball control offense been all season?

The lack of consistency that has plagued the offense thus far in the 2022 season was not on display against the Panthers and honestly, that was refreshing to see. I think the game ball should have gone to the entire offensive line. Perhaps it did, but if it did not, it should have.  The O-line gave up only one sack, but otherwise controlled the line of scrimmage.

Let’s see what we learned on defense.

The Steelers defense was stout against the run and controlled the line of scrimmage

I have to tell you, it was great to see that we were able to stop the run against the Panthers.  Not only did we stop the run, but we stopped it in its tracks.  We held the Panthers to twenty-one yards on the ground. The defensive line played out of their minds.

I dare say that was the best defensive performance we have had stopping the run all season.  Like the offense, that begs the question: Where has that been all season?  If we were consistent all season in stopping the run, who knows what our record would be right now?

Alas, that is a conversation for another time.  Not only was the defense able to stop the run, but we were able to generate pressure on the opposing QB as evidenced by the fact that we ‘got home’ four times. I don’t think it’s a secret that our defense just plays better when we are able to generate pressure.

Let’s see what else we learned.

The Steelers played an inspired game against the Panthers but it may be too little, too late

One game will not in and of itself define a season, but if the Steelers can play out the stretch in the manner in which we played against the Panthers, we may just turn this season into a winning one. I think Mike Tomlin and the rest of the coaching staff should be commended for getting the team ready to play.

The reason I say that is this: after a crushing loss the previous week, we could have easily folded up the tents, as it were, and mailed it in for the rest of the season, but we did not. Instead, we went on the road and played one of our best games of the season, a game that may be a turning point in the remainder of the 2022 season.

While I don’t think playoffs are ‘in the cards’ this season, the prospect of finishing the season with a winning record is a prospect I would not have thought possible a few weeks ago. Let’s see how the rest of the season goes, but I hope it goes the same way the game against the Panthers went.