The Pittsburgh Steelers ' defense is finding a way to be historic, just not in the way it would like.
Coming out on the wrong end at Soldier Field on Sunday, they watched the Chicago Bears put up 31 points, marking the second time opponents have scored at least 30 against the black and gold in a regular season since Mike Tomlin took the helm in 2007. The only other time a Tomlin-led Steelers unit allowed at least 30 points five times was 2013, finishing 8-8 and missing out on the postseason.
Their road ahead this time around isn't getting any easier.
The Steelers still have matchups against the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills , who respectively field the second- and fifth-best scoring offenses in the NFL. Not to mention, Lamar Jackson , Derrick Henry and the Baltimore Ravens are also ahead.
Tomlin's bunch could enter uncharted and very choppy waters defensively.
The Bills and Lions have both registered at least 30 points six times this go-round. The former has tacked up 40 three times, while the latter has done so twice, including a 52-point performance against the Chicago Bears in Week 2.
The Steelers aren't used to such struggles. Last season, they gave up 30-plus points just twice. For further reference, they allowed 30-plus points four times in the regular season from 2018-20. In 2020, the Steelers didn't allow any team to post 30 on them until a 48-37 Wild Card playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns .
The Steelers currently rank 20th in scoring defense (23.9 points per game). The group has permitted the league's second-most passing yards (258.7) and fifth-most total yards per game (364.5) at this juncture.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Numbers Paint Ugly Picture for Steelers Defensive Future
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