Steelers Grind Out Ugly Wins to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive, but Is OC Matt Canada’s Luck Running Out This Season?

The Pittsburgh Steelers hold the distinction of being the team with the most Super Bowl wins at 6, along with the New England Patriots. But their last Super Bowl win was in 2009 and only made it to the playoffs in 2021 as a Wild Card Entry. In the current season, they are 6-3 entering into Week 11. They are in second place in the AFC North division and will face their divisional rivals, the Cleveland Browns, on Sunday.

Going by their record, it doesn’t seem like they are doing a bad job at all. But digging a little deeper, the picture doesn’t appear so rosy. Most of the Steelers’ wins have been “dirty”, that is, they have been out gained by every single one of its opponents. By just how much?

The Pittsburgh Steelers lag behind their opponents on every metric

On Sunday Night Football, they won 23-19 against the Green Bay Packers. Head Coach Mike Tomlin’s band gained 324 net yards as compared to the Packers’ 399. Aside from the tag of the team with most SB wins, they now have a new title. They are the only NFL team since 1993 to be out gained by the opposing team in every game and still have a greater than 0.500 record.

The Steelers have, on average, scored 17.3 points per game, while their opponents have scored 20.2. They have a total passing yards of 1,623, while their opponents have 2,236 yards. Steeler’s opponents’ offense has managed 3,582 yards, while they have managed only 2,701. Offensive yards per game? Steelers are at 300.1, while their opponents are at 398.0.

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Due to offensive coordinator, Matt Canada and his team’s lack of firepower, football fans are wondering, “There’s no WAY these guys can be winning.” But they are, anyway. Are there any other teams in NFL history that have had equally “dirty” wins?

Which teams have won “dirty” in the past?

HC Chuck Noll, who eventually made it to the Hall of Fame, was towards the fag end of his career with the Steelers. He had masterminded a brilliant defense for the Steelers in what came to be known as the great “Blitzburgh”. Pittsburgh held fast even after a season-opening 51-0 blowout loss to the Cleveland Browns, they made it to the Super Bowl.

The Baltimore Ravens (then known as Baltimore Colts) hadn’t made it to the playoffs since 1987. But in 1992, not only did they get outscored by 86 points, but they were also out gained by 5,074 to 4,368. And yet they managed a winning season that year. In three games, they had totaled 92-0 against their opponents!

But will the luck run forever for the Steelers? Or is their “dirty” wins streak coming to an end?

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