Behind the Steel Curtain
For the Steelers to find their way back into contention, they must find answers on the defensive line. This offseason, they focused on enhancing their front, drafting DT Derrick Harmon with their first-round pick, along with 5th-round nose tackle Yahya Black. Unfortunately, Harmon will miss his second straight week due to injury. Last Sunday, with Harmon on the sidelines, the Buffalo Bills dominated the run game, scampering for 249 yards – the most in Acrisure Stadium history.
The Steelers’ run defense has faced significant challenges so far this season, and this Sunday, they’ll take on one of the best backs in the league, Derrick Henry. Last season, the black and gold allowed 299 rushing yards in a playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens, one of the most embarrassing performances in team history. Even with the initiative to address their shortcomings, they still currently rank 28th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed.
Historically, Mike Tomlin had contained Henry up until last season – at least when compared to other teams.
Here are his stat lines in the three prior matchups, while Henry was playing for the Tennessee Titans.
11/16/2017 – 7 rushes, 32 yards
10/25/2020 – 20 rushes, 75 yards, TD
11/2/2023 – 17 rushes, 75 yards, TD
But last season, it all went to shambles.
In the Steelers’ two losses to the Ravens, Henry scampered for 162 and 186 yards, respectively.
After what we’ve seen so far this year, how can that improve? That’s a rhetorical question.
I’d anticipate the Steelers frequently stack the box against Henry and make Lamar Jackson beat them with his arm, which he generally hasn’t been able to do. But even with eight or nine in the box, I still have a hard time trusting Keeanu Benton or Esezi Otomewo to make any type of impact in this game.
Veteran DT Cam Heyward, who demanded a pay raise this offseason, will likely have to be Superman for the Steelers to keep their season alive. Harmon’s injury came at a tough time, but clearly, the Steelers didn’t do enough to address the position that doomed their season last year. I don’t anticipate that changing the last handful of games.
And they’ll likely head into the 2026 season needing to once more address a position they spent valuable resources on in 2025, yet again.
