Pittsburgh Steelers – Running Game

The Steelers are historically famous for their strong defenses and unstoppable running game. However, last year Pittsburgh had the worst rushing attack in the AFC North. The team’s 90.4 rushing yards per game were the fourth-fewest in the entire NFL.

Even in 2018, Pittsburgh only averaged 90.3 rushing yards per game, which ranked 31st in the league. With Ben Roethlisberger missing 14 games in 2019, Pittsburgh’s terrible ground game was exposed and exploited. Injuries also damaged the team’s backfield, regularly sidelining James Conner.

Injuries are another weakness the Steelers face, but the running game wasn’t even viable last year. Pittsburgh only averaged 3.7 yards per carry, which tied for the third-fewest in the NFL. Even the Bengals, who suffered from poor quarterback play and a below-average offensive line, outrushed the Steelers.

Roethlisberger’s return should buoy Pittsburgh’s offense, but that doesn’t mean the run game gets a pass. Either Anthony McFarland Jr. needs to inject some new life into the backfield, or Conner must get back to his 2018 form. The offensive line must do a better job at run blocking as well.

The Steelers have a chance to win ten or eleven games this season. However, the franchise can no longer ask Roethlisberger to throw the ball 600 times a season. Instead, the offense needs a balanced attack capable of throwing off even the NFL’s best defenses.