This Ben Roethlisberger Stat Should be Terrifying for Steelers Fans
By Ben Heisler
The Pittsburgh Steelers were hoping for one final swan song out of the team that started off 11-0 a season ago.
The problem is, they look much more like the team that finished 1-4 so far through 2021.
The Steelers shocked bettors with a huge 22-16 road upset against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1, as Pittsburgh won outright as 6.5-point underdogs on the road. T.J. Watt was a monster in that game as the newly-extended edge rusher sacked Josh Allen twice, and led the team with five QB hits.
They then returned home to Heinz Field and promptly dropped two straight games against two below average teams from a season ago; falling to the Las Vegas Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals. The two home losses in a row was the first time since the 2018 season, when Pittsburgh fell to the Chiefs 37-42, followed by a 26-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
After a top three season a year ago, the defense is now league average, ranking 12th in points against. But the offense has fallen all the way to 28th in the league, thanks to a depleted offensive line and a 39-year old quarterback who may not have anything left in the tank.
The #Steelers pass rush pressured Joe Burrow just one time without their starting EDGE defenders T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith (both out with injury).
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 26, 2021
The Steelers 5.6% team pressure rate was their lowest in a game in the Next Gen Stats era (since 2016).#CINvsPIT | #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/jznS6UzhH3
The clock is ticking on Big Ben and the results are showing more than they ever have
Ben Roethlisberger looked like he may have found a new way forward during the first half of last year. He was getting the ball out quicker, using short completions in space to get his receivers plenty of chunk plays. But the league adjusted and he hasn't been the same since.
After three weeks, Big Ben is averaging only 6.2 yards per attempt to go along with only three touchdowns and three picks. He's been sacked eight times and has a QBR of just 35.7.
Via Tommy Jaggi of FanSided's Still Curtain, Big Ben, despite completing 63% of his passes, is actually being propped up substantially by his wide receivers. After throwing 76.4% of his passes "on target" in 2020, according to Pro Football Focus' metrics, Roethlisberger is down to under 42% so far in 2021.
According to @pfref, just 54 of 130 passes (41.9%) from Ben Roethlisberger have been considered on target. This is down from 76.4% last year. #Steelers
— Tommy Jaggi (@TommyJaggi) September 27, 2021
Between his injuries, inability to throw downfield, and age starting to show, the Steelers' season could be headed towards catastrophe unless the defense completely carries the load.
The AFC North Could Be Wide Open
With the Steelers falling to 1-2, the Ravens, Browns and Bengals are all 2-1 at the top of the division. Right now at WynnBET Sportsbook, the Browns and Ravens are tied at odds of +110, with the Bengals surpassing the Steelers for the first time this year. Cincinnati is now +1000 to surprise in the AFC North, with the Steelers now in last place at +1200 odds.
Pittsburgh is now down to +7500 to win the Super Bowl after starting near +3000 this season at WynnBET.
Who do you like to take home the AFC North division? Are bettors overreacting to the Steelers' start? Make your bet today at WynnBET!