Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers were one of the worst in the NFL in 2024 at one of the areas that the four remaining teams in the NFL playoffs were the best at.
The Steelers finished the 2024 season ranked 31st in the NFL in fourth-down conversion rate at 38.9%. Only the Dallas Cowboys were worse.
Meanwhile, the four team at the top of that chart, are the four team still playing for a Lombardi Trophy. The Washington Commanders converted on 87% of their fourth-down plays to lead the league, followed by the Buffalo Bills (72.7%), Kansas City Chiefs (70.6%) and Philadelphia Eagles (70.4%).
Not a coincidence. Another offensive area where #Steelers are waaaay behind. pic.twitter.com/O5keMkWZM7
— David Todd (@DavidMTodd) January 21, 2025
Of the top 10 teams in the NFL in fourth-down conversion rate, only the Atlanta Falcons did not make the playoffs. The Steelers were the only team below 50% to make the postseason.
Not only were the Steelers nearly the least efficient on fourth downs, they were one of the least aggressive teams in those scenarios, as well. The Steelers went for it on fourth down just 18 times this season. Only seven teams were more conservative.
The combination of lack of aggression and poor conversion rate means that the Steelers got just seven extra sets of down from a fourth down conversion over the entirety of the 2024 season.
It didn’t seem to matter much who the Steelers used to try to convert. Justin Fields attempted five rushes on fourth down, converting two. He also threw one incomplete pass (33%). Jaylen Warren rushed three times on fourth down and converted once (33%). Najee Harris ran three times and converted twice (66%). Russell Wilson converted one rushing attempt, but was one for four passing (40%).
The team’s final fourth-down attempt was a fake punt that fell incomplete from Miles Killebrew to James Pierre against the Washington Commanders.
