Joe Flacco’s 92-yard drive heard around the AFC North wasn’t a new phenomenon for the Steelers defense.
Pittsburgh gave up a long fourth quarter touchdown drive in a loss to the Texans. The Colts of all teams rallied late in the fourth quarter to tie Pittsburgh.
This isn’t a trend that just started this year, either. Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette points out seven cases where the defense struggled in the fourth quarter of games last year.
“I don’t know if guys are playing more cautious because they don’t want to give up the big play or what. We don’t talk about it,” defensive lineman Chris Hoke said.
“It was definitely sickening,” linebacker James Farrior said. “As a guy watching it from the sideline, I felt especially bad. We just have to get off the field.”
The Steelers defense has played great fundamental football this year, but they aren’t making big plays. The Steelers are last in the league in takeaways, tied with the Dolphins.
No takeaways means the Steelers will be in a lot of close games, especially when they face a good defense like the Bengals this Sunday. Pittsburgh’s defense needs to find a better way to close.
