When you win games in the NFL, fans often look past shortcomings. The Pittsburgh Steelers just added another victory to their season, but it wasn't a pretty road to it against an inferior Tampa Bay Buccaneers team in Week 6.
Special teams were a massive factor in why the Black and Gold struggled once again, and kicker Chris Boswell's early-season struggles aren't getting talked about enough.
He might've just become the best kicker in the organization's history by breaking their most field goals made record, but things seem off with him. Perhaps it's an issue with how the kicking process is operating with Christian Kuntz and Cameron Johnston. If so, that needs to be solved in a hurry. Although the Steelers sit at a 4-2 record, it might've been better if Boswell was more accurate.
Some of his missed kicks have led to a losing result, as they did against the Cleveland Browns. He hasn't been terrible, as he continues to show an ability to bounce back early in the season. The issue is that Pittsburgh just re-signed the veteran to a massive contract, and he is showing signs of error. Boswell needs to be more reliable, or it could eventually take this team out of playoff contention.
Pittsburgh Steelers special teams disasters this season cannot look past Chris Boswell
Going into Week 7 of the season, Chris Boswell is starting to raise some red flags. He's made 76.5% of his field goal attempts. That is a significant drop-off in reliability, as he kicked at an 84.4% rate last year. That is about an eight percent decline, and almost no one seems to point it out.
He only missed five field goals last campaign, but Boswell has already missed four this season through only six games of action.
To be fair, the kicker is getting sent onto the field to make some long attempts thus far this season. Most of his tries, which are six to this point, have come from 50 yards or more. In those attempts, Boswell is four for six, including his longest on the year with a 58 yarder. He still has the leg to be one of the best kickers in the NFL, but he has been disappointing for the Steelers going into Week 7.
When it comes to long-distance field goals, Boswell is inching closer to some of the toughest he's seen.
He only went for 50-plus-yard field goal attempts 11 times last year and sunk nine of those. That just shows how much the Black and Gold are demanding excellence from him this season. Right now, the kicker is on an average that would see him attempt 17 attempts of 50 yards or more this campaign alone.
When it comes down to it, the Steelers offense is relying too much on Chris Boswell and the special teams unit. Perhaps the long distances have contributed to the veteran's early-season turmoil. Either way, he's getting paid too much for this concern to become a trending problem.
It's being overlooked now, but if these issues cost them a game, it won't be. Boswell needs to turn things around immediately.
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