Steelers are talking about turnovers
Broncos seldom lose their grip on the ball
As the Denver Broncos ride into Heinz Field, the Steelers defense is talking turnovers. Not that that’s anything new. All through training camp and the preseason, if you have ever watched and listened to them practice, you would hear coach Mike Tomlin and captain Cam Heyward imploring defensive players to “ball search” at every opportunity.
But the most opportunistic unit in the NFL over the past two years has been far too kind to opposing offenses through four weeks. And at 13, it’s hurting their ability to get stops when the Steelers need them most.
After leading the NFL in takeaways in 2019 and finishing second a year ago, the Steelers have just three so far in 2021. As little as they’re forcing the issue on defense, Denver is playing keep-away on offense.
With veteran journeyman Teddy Bridgewater at the helm, only two teams (Eagles and Vikings) have fewer turnovers than the Broncos’ three. If this is the week for the Steelers to start coming up with more splash plays on defense, something’s got to give.
“You don’t see many guys being able to get the ball out with second-effort punches or anything like that against this team,” Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt, a master at forcing fumbles, said of the Broncos. “They definitely preach ball security.”
Bridgewater, in his first season with Denver, has been perfect at protecting the ball. One of the Broncos’ three turnovers is an interception thrown by third-year backup quarterback Drew Lock, who will only be needed in the event of another Bridgewater injury. The other two are lost fumbles by rookie running back Javonte Williams and tight end Albert Okwuegbunam.
With a defense that’s allowing the fourth-fewest yards per game, albeit against an iffy slate of offenses, the Broncos are leaning into their identity as a team that can win
low-scoring games as long as they don’t make mistakes. Lock was turnoverprone a year ago, leading the league with 15 interceptions, so it’s no secret why the franchise traded for Bridgewater this offseason. Eight years after being a first-round pick, he’s finding his niche as a game manager with a strong backfield that’s 11th in the league in rushing and 12th in yards per carry.
“They have a good twoheaded monster running attack. They’ve been able to run the ball really effectively. Great guys up front to block,” Watt said. “Whenever they are throwing the ball, they’re getting the ball out relatively quick.”
Indeed, a Steelers pass rush that has led the league in sacks four years running is not generating the same kind of pressure. It doesn’t help that they’re blitzing less and were missing Watt for a game and a half, but at least one of those components might not be fixable soon.
In the Steelers secondary, starting cornerback Cam Sutton is unlikely to play Sunday because of a groin injury sustained late in the game against the Packers. Sutton’s replacement on the outside figures to be secondyear James Pierre, who might need safety help if he’s lined up on 6-foot-4 wideout Courtland Sutton. Plus, the Broncos love throwing to athletic tight end Noah Fant, so dropping linebackers into coverage rather than sending them at Bridgewater could be necessary for the Steelers.
“Can’t say enough also about Fant at tight end,” Tomlin said. “He’s one of those guys that is a challenging matchup, oftentimes too big for defenders or defensive backs, and too athletic for linebackers. So we’ve got to be thoughtful about how we work to minimize him and who we put on him and when, because he’s a big component of what they do.”
Whether Bridgewater is sticking the ball into the bellies of Williams and Melvin Gordon or distributing it to Sutton and Fant, the Steelers can’t overlook a Broncos offense that doesn’t appear as dynamic as the previous four they’ve faced.
“Pittsburgh is always going to play with a sense of urgency,” said Broncos coach Vic Fangio, who spent four years with the Ravens from 2006- 09. “That’s just who they are, and we’ve got to be ready to have our own.”