After yet another postseason disappointment, Steelers fans are left grappling with feelings of frustration and disillusionment over the repeated failures of their beloved team when it matters most. The crushing Wild Card defeat to the Ravens marks another missed opportunity and solidifies Mike Tomlin’s continued struggle, as he now faces an eight-year stretch without a playoff victory.
Pittsburgh seemed to have hope midway through the season, particularly after they made the switch to quarterback Russell Wilson. For a brief moment, the Steelers showed signs of life and looked like they might be primed for a playoff run. However, that optimism was short-lived. As the season drew to a close, the team faltered in the most critical part of the year, losing five consecutive games, including their playoff contest, to finish with a whimper. This raises the inevitable question: what went wrong? Were the Steelers truly that bad?
Looking at the 2024 season in hindsight, the answer lies in the team’s overall performance statistics. Despite some flashes of potential, Pittsburgh’s numbers reveal why they were never truly contenders for a deep playoff run. Offensively, the Steelers went from showing promise to becoming downright ineffective. They finished the regular season ranked 19th in points per game, 23rd in total yards, 25th in yards per play, 25th in rushing yards per attempt, 14th in passing yards per attempt, 20th in DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average), and 20th in offensive EPA (expected points added) per play.
When you average out these rankings, it becomes clear that Pittsburgh’s offense was nothing more than middle-of-the-road, ranking around 21st out of the 32 teams in the league. Given that only 14 teams make the playoffs, this is far below the level of performance that fans had hoped for heading into the season. An offense ranked in the lower half of the league was simply not going to compete with the league’s top teams in the postseason.
On the defensive side of the ball, Pittsburgh’s unit performed significantly better, though it still left much to be desired. The Steelers ranked 8th in both points allowed per game and defensive DVOA. Additionally, they finished 9th in defense EPA/play, which are respectable statistics. However, despite these strong rankings, Teryl Austin’s defense still struggled in certain areas, finishing 15th in total yards allowed and 16th in opponent yards per play. These inconsistencies were noticeable, particularly against top-tier offenses, and exposed the defense’s vulnerabilities in key moments.
Ultimately, the Steelers’ performance in the playoffs reflected the same issues highlighted by their regular season statistics. The team finished 15th in total DVOA, a comprehensive metric that analyzes every play of the season while adjusting for factors like opponent strength, down and distance, and league averages. A DVOA ranking of 15th indicates that the Steelers were not one of the league’s top 14 teams during 2024. This statistic further reinforces the notion that Pittsburgh, despite making the postseason, was never really positioned to make a meaningful impact against the league’s elite teams.
Heading into the season, there was hope that the arrival of Russell Wilson at quarterback and Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator would spark a transformation. Unfortunately, neither move proved to be the game-changer the franchise was hoping for. Despite their best efforts, the Steelers were unable to elevate themselves to true contender status. While Wilson and Smith brought a new approach, it simply wasn’t enough to make Pittsburgh a championship-caliber team.
Once again, the Steelers’ season ended in disappointment, with their playoff dreams crushed by superior competition. This year’s outcome feels all too familiar: they managed to keep their non-losing streak alive, but once they reached the postseason, they were overpowered by better teams. The 2024 Steelers played exactly as their statistical profile suggested they would—solid, but not quite good enough to contend with the league’s best. For Pittsburgh fans, this defeat is just another reminder of the franchise’s struggles to break through and secure that elusive playoff victory, despite the occasional flashes of promise throughout the season.
