Steelers Stats that Stood Out in the win over the Patriots
Steelers Nation is still in a mix of die-hard fan frenzy and near-unbelief after the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the New England Patriots on Sunday at Heinz Field, 17-10. The fact that the win felt so good is almost euphoric. Watching the black and gold show up and deny Tom Brady was especially rewarding after a period of losses. With the win, the Steelers have nearly wrapped up the AFC North division title, but before any looking ahead is done, let’s look at the stats that stood out when Pittsburgh handed New England a defeat.
Watt an effort!
Outside linebacker T.J. Watt had been quieter for a couple weeks this season, but against the Patriots, Watt kicked the amps up to maximum wattage – and the results were impressive. Outside of applying heavy pressure for nearly a full 60 minutes, Watt registered three tackles (all solo), three quarterback hits, a tackle for a loss, and brought Brady down for a sack in the third quarter for a loss of seven yards. Watt increased his single-season career high sack total to 11.0 (2018), surpassing his rookie outing (7.0) in 2017. His career sack total of 18.0 is the most by a Steelers defender in their first two seasons in the NFL in franchise history since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 (LaMarr Woodley: 15.5, 2007-08).
Watt’s performance helped give a Steelers defense the teeth and motivation needed to keep Brady from being able to get the Patriots offense over ten points in the game and eliminate a late-game comeback.
Samuels continues to rumble
Since taking over the majority of the rushing duties due to James Conner‘s injury, Jaylen Samuels – considered a “project” in training camp by many – has proven to be reliable as not only a rusher but also as a receiver. In Week 15, Samuels recorded the first 100-yard rushing game in the rookie season of his NFL career. Averaging 7.5 yards per carry, Samuels rushed for 142 yards on 19 attempts. He added 30 yards in the passing game.
Since becoming the Steelers’ primary back in Week 14, Samuels has amassed 170 yards on 30 carries (5.57 yards per carry) in the ground game and 94 receiving yards on 9 receptions.
Le'Veon Bell 2017: 406 touches, 1,946 yards, 11 touchdowns, $12.1 million.
James Conner/Jaylen Samuels 2018: 337 touches, 1,804 yards, 14 TDs. $1.2 million. Combined.
— Will Graves (@WillGravesAP) December 17, 2018
4
Tight end Vance McDonald continues to impress in Pittsburgh’s offense. On Sunday, McDonald caught two passes for 13 yards, including a five-yard touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger. That touchdown made his receptions-for-a-touchdown total four in 2018 and matches a single-season career high McDonald previously set in 2016. McDonald now has single-season highs for receptions (46) and receiving yards (522).
150
Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster tied for the team lead (with Eli Rogers, who saw his first action in 2018 on Sunday after being activated from the PUP list and earned 20 receiving yards) with four receptions. Smith-Schuster ended the day with 40 yards receiving and recorded career catch number 150 in his regular-season career on the first reception of the game (his 28th game), setting a Steelers franchise record for the fewest games to that milestone (Le’Veon Bell, 34 games). With the 95 receptions he has caught this season, Smith-Schuster is tied as seventh-most by a Steelers player in a single season with Hines Ward (95, 2003 and 2009). He is just six receptions short of Antonio Brown‘s 2017 season reception total of 101.
13
Not to outdone, Brown tied his 2014 season total on Sunday as the most touchdown catches by a Steelers player in a single season in franchise history when he grabbed a pass from Big Ben for his 13th touchdown in 2018. That is one touchdown more in a single season than he recorded in 2016 (12 – tied at 3rd with Hines Ward: 2002, Louis Lipps: 1985, and Buddy Dial: 1961).
Brown has recorded at least one reception in 137 consecutive games in which he has played – including the postseason – dating back to Oct. 3, 2010, including 127 consecutive regular-season games.
12
On Sunday, head coach Mike Tomlin led the team to their eighth win of the 2018 NFL regular season. That secured the 12th consecutive season with a winning record for Pittsburgh – a streak that dates back to Tomlin’s first season as head coach in 2007. Tomlin joins just five other head coaches in NFL history to begin a head coaching tenure with at least 12 consecutive non-losing seasons – Marty Schottenheimer (1984-97, 14), Don Shula (1963-75, 13), George Allen (1966-77, 12) and Curly Lambeau (1921-32, 12).
Tomlin now holds a record of 92-50-1 in regular-season games vs. AFC opponents (50-21 at Heinz Field), improved to 34-16 in games during the month of December (22-8 at home), and improved his regular-season record against the Patriots to 3-6 (2-3 at home).
22
Cornerback Joe Haden hit a new mark in his NFL career during the fourth quarter when he intercepted Brady at the Steelers’ four-yard line by grabbing the 22nd interception; it was his third with the Steelers (second in 2018).
Haden led all defenders with a game-high 12 total tackles (marking the third regular season game of his NFL career with at least ten total tackles (13: Nov. 16, 2014 and Sept. 14, 2014). He recorded eight solo tackles and two passes defensed.
