Steelers ‘unleash’ dominant defense against Jaguars, rookie QB

Poor Jake Luton was hit seven times, sacked twice and pressed or pressed on countless other occasions by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. The sixth-round rookie pick threw four interceptions and completed less than half of his passes in another loss for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

For the second week in a row, the Steelers splash defense feasted on an opposing first-year quarterback. But were the Steelers deliberately more aggressive against a seemingly outmatched rookie QB?

“No,” coach Mike Tomlin said after the 27-3 win pushed the Steelers to 10-0. “We just have a wild mentality, it doesn’t matter who we play.”

Admittedly, more and more in recent weeks the Steelers defense has looked like it’s in attack mode. In the last two games, the 26 combined possessions the Cincinnati Bengals and Jaguars have had against the Steelers have scored more punts (15) than points (13). And for an offense, the boat is preferable to the four interceptions of Luton on Sunday.

“The defense is just playing big, man,” Steelers running back James Conner said. “They have so much going for them.”

Already leader of the NFL in bags (two Sundays gives them 38 over the season) and to take away (21 after Sunday), the Steelers are now leading the championship in the most important defensive category.

The opponents are averaging 17.4 points against them. Unless the Los Angeles Rams hold the Tampa Bay Buccaneers six points or less in Monday night’s game, the Steelers will have the NFL’s first defense before Week 12.

“The guys play hard and play fast and well together,” said Tomlin. “It creates the frenzy that creates the wave we ride.”

On the first down after Sunday’s game kick-off, Luton designed a nine-game, 52-yard practice that featured three first downs and ended with three runs.

After that, however, it felt like the Steelers had had enough. Of his last 11 game holdings, Jacksonville has scored more than one first try on a record just twice; he has scored 20 yards or more on a possession just once.

“As a defenseman we just have to go out and play our game from first to last,” said goaltender Terrell Edmunds, bemoaning the only goal the Steelers submitted.

The last six games have been the best for the defense. Beginning with a 38-7 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 18, the Steelers allowed 14.5 points and 310.5 yards per game.

Opposing passers-by have seven touchdowns, a 51.5% completion percentage and 60.3 odds during that time. Opponents converted just 31.3% of 83 third-down opportunities and were sacked 18 times (three per game). The Steelers forced 10 fumbles (recovering five) and had nine interceptions in those six games.

“The revenue differential and the way they get after quarterbacks,” Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said, “it’s so fun to watch them play.”

Still, Steelers defenders who spoke after Sunday’s win seemed far from satisfied.

With playoff-caliber teams like Baltimore, Buffalo and Indianapolis looming on the schedule, the Steelers aren’t content with their performances over the past two weeks against teams with rookie quarterbacks that are a 3-16-1 combined. .

“No, there is certainly still more to work on,” said security Minkah Fitzpatrick.

“(The Bengals and the Jaguars) are two teams we should have beaten like this. We are a very talented team and we should have won these games like that.

Chris Adamski is an editor for Tribune-Review. You can contact Chris by email at [email protected] or via Twitter .