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5 reasons Steelers can win the Super Bowl this year

By Russell S. Baxter

OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 09: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the sidelines against the Oakland Raiders during an NFL football game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 9, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 09: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the sidelines against the Oakland Raiders during an NFL football game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 9, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 16: Joe Haden #23 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts after intercepting a pass intended for Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots in the fourth quarter during the game at Heinz Field on December 16, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 16: Joe Haden #23 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts after intercepting a pass intended for Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots in the fourth quarter during the game at Heinz Field on December 16, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

2. Steelers become Stealers

In this day and age of offensive football, it’s become difficult for any team to truly neutralize another. This past season, the Chicago Bears led the NFL in fewest points allowed (283). That’s a relatively high number and actually the most by a team since the league went to a 16-game season in 1978. The last five clubs to lead the league in fewest points allowed surrendered at least 250 points that year.

Of course, Matt Nagy’s squad came up with a NFL-high 36 takeaways this past season on the way to a 12-4 record and an NFC North title. Meanwhile, the Steelers were on the opposite end of that spectrum when it came to opportunistic football. Only the San Francisco 49ers (7) and Detroit Lions (14) managed fewer takeaways than Mike Tomlin’s Steelers (15). A total of eight interceptions and seven opponent fumble recoveries was all that Pittsburgh could manage in 16 outings this past year.

Of those aforementioned picks, veteran cornerback Joe Haden led the team with just two INTs. Nearly half of those thefts (3) came in a Week 3 Monday night win at Tampa. The club failed to intercept a pass in 10 of their 16 outings. Of course, this issue isn’t new to the club. Dating back to 2011, only the Tennessee Titans (163) have forced fewer turnovers than the Steelers (166). If this team can’t consistently stop team from moving the ball, they had better find a way to take that pigskin away.

Next: No. 1

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