While one would be hard-pressed to call Thursday’s victory over the Tennessee Titans a “pretty game” for the Pittsburgh Steelers, they got the result they needed. That’s been a theme for Pittsburgh this year.
In fact, winning ugly is something that the Steelers have done at an essentially unprecedented level in 2023.
Pittsburgh’s 20-16 victory over Tennessee on Thursday came despite being outgained 340-326. Winning a close game despite narrowly being outgained might seem largely insignificant. That said, the Steelers have been outgained in every game they’ve played this season. Despite that, they’re 5-3. That hasn’t been done in (at least) nearly 60 years.
Shortly after Thursday’s game, the NFL on CBS Twitter/X account tweeted that the “Steelers are the only team in the Super Bowl era to have a winning record (5-3) through 8 games despite being outgained every game.”
Steelers are the only team in the Super Bowl era to have a winning record (5-3) through 8 games despite being outgained every game.
Pittsburgh has been outgained by 790 yards this year. pic.twitter.com/DdQNU3SHdt
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 3, 2023
As one might expect, football fans didn’t quite know how to react to this weird stat.
Sustaining the unsustainable #Steelers https://t.co/cWFvVZ4SlZ
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) November 3, 2023
Mike Tomlin finding increasingly elaborate ways to challenge his “never had a losing record” thing https://t.co/xn1x4pHkhk
— howdy howdy howdy (@AnthraxJones) November 3, 2023
I can’t decide if I want to laugh, cry, or run through a brick wall for this man https://t.co/89XoW8Vk4u
— Melissa (@mdrizzy22) November 3, 2023
once again this Barry quote is relevant https://t.co/szUgq5wYFs pic.twitter.com/xquDYa616f
— Pittsburgh Clothing Co. (@PGHClothingCo) November 3, 2023
Here’s a stat to mull over. If you have seen them play this year, are you surprised? https://t.co/V9dIxMjdRv
— Rick Dayton (@rickdayton) November 3, 2023
Thursday’s game was probably Pittsburgh’s most rational victory of the season. Previously, they were outgained 408-255 in Week 2’s 26-22 win over the Cleveland Browns, 363-333 in Week 3’s 23-18 win against the Las Vegas Raiders, 335-289 in a 17-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5, 354-300 in Week 7’s 24-17 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
The losses (391-239 in Week 1’s 30-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, 335-289 in Week 4’s 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans and 377-261 in Week 8’s 20-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars) have made more sense.
The good news for the Steelers is that they have managed to stay afloat in the standings despite their offensive struggles. But even though the strategy has worked reasonably well for the first eight games, the next nine may be a different story if the Pittsburgh offense can’t gain more consistency.
[NFL on CBS on Twitter/X]
