The Steelers defense continues to make big plays when big plays need to be made
I know I sound like a broken record here, but the manner in which the Steelers have won six games thus far in the 2023 season, which is honestly shocking to me, has been the same in each of the aforementioned six wins.
We play a 'bend, don't break' style of defense that relies on turnovers and sacks to secure victory. As this game was unfolding, I said to my twenty-five-year-old son that if we don't get at least one turnover, we are not going to win this game.
Well, we got two turnovers and one sack, courtesy of Keanu Neal, Damontae Kazee, and T.J. Watt, respectively. Although we gave up just under four hundred total yards, of which two hundred and eighty-three came via the passing game due, in part, to some very questionable calls by Teryl Austin, the defense 'bowed up' when it had to and sealed the victory on a game-ending INT.
As I have said and as I will keep saying, the Steelers defense can not be counted on week in and week out to either secure victory or snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Football is the ultimate team game, thus winning has to be a team effort.
Let's see what else we learned.