It was a disappointing season for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but no one should be blaming their defense. Especially in fantasy realms, where it did something that's seldom achieved in the NFL.
Pittsburgh last year led the league in both sacks (54) and takeaways (38). Over the last 30 years, that's occurred only twice -- in 1990 with Kansas City, and 1991 with Philadelphia. Those teams tied for the league lead in takeaways both of those season, while leading in sacks. Pittsburgh had both spots all to themselves in 2019.
SACKS AND TAKEAWAYS, 1990-2019 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | Int | Fum | Take | Sack | T(Rk) | S(Rk) | |
1990 | Kansas City | 20 | 25 | 45 | 60 | 1-2 | 1 | |
1991 | Philadelphia | 26 | 22 | 48 | 55 | 1-2 | 1 | |
1992 | New Orleans | 18 | 20 | 38 | 57 | 5 | 1 | |
1993 | Tennessee | 26 | 17 | 43 | 52 | 2 | 1 | |
1994 | Pittsburgh | 17 | 14 | 31 | 55 | 13-16 | 1 | |
1995 | Buffalo | 17 | 11 | 28 | 49 | 21 | 1 | |
1996 | Carolina | 22 | 16 | 38 | 60 | 5 | 1 | |
1997 | New Orleans | 16 | 15 | 31 | 59 | 8-10 | 1 | |
1998 | NY Giants | 19 | 7 | 26 | 54 | 19-21 | 1 | |
1999 | St. Louis | 29 | 7 | 36 | 57 | 6-7 | 1-2 | |
1999 | Jacksonville | 19 | 11 | 30 | 57 | 17-18 | 1-2 | |
2000 | New Orleans | 20 | 15 | 35 | 66 | 8-10 | 1 | |
2001 | Pittsburgh | 16 | 12 | 28 | 55 | 17-20 | 1 | |
2002 | Philadelphia | 15 | 22 | 37 | 56 | 5 | 1 | |
2003 | Baltimore | 24 | 17 | 41 | 47 | 2-3 | 1 | |
2004 | Atlanta | 19 | 13 | 32 | 48 | 11-12 | 1 | |
2005 | Seattle | 16 | 11 | 27 | 50 | 18-20 | 1 | |
2006 | San Diego | 16 | 12 | 28 | 61 | 15-17 | 1 | |
2007 | NY Giants | 15 | 10 | 25 | 53 | 22-24 | 1 | |
2008 | Dallas | 8 | 14 | 22 | 59 | 20-25 | 1 | |
2009 | Minnesota | 11 | 13 | 24 | 48 | 22-23 | 1 | |
2010 | Pittsburgh | 21 | 14 | 35 | 48 | 3-4 | 1 | |
2011 | Philadelphia | 15 | 9 | 24 | 50 | 16-19 | 1-2 | |
2011 | Minnesota | 8 | 15 | 23 | 50 | 20-21 | 1-2 | |
2012 | Denver | 16 | 8 | 24 | 52 | 16-17 | 1-2 | |
2012 | St. Louis | 17 | 4 | 21 | 52 | 23-24 | 1-2 | |
2013 | Carolina | 20 | 10 | 30 | 60 | 6-9 | 1 | |
2014 | Buffalo | 19 | 11 | 30 | 54 | 3 | 1 | |
2015 | Denver | 14 | 13 | 27 | 52 | 7-8 | 1 | |
2016 | Arizona | 14 | 14 | 28 | 48 | 4-6 | 1 | |
2017 | Pittsburgh | 16 | 6 | 22 | 56 | 13-15 | 1 | |
2018 | Kansas City | 15 | 12 | 27 | 52 | 7-9 | 1-2 | |
2018 | Pittsburgh | 8 | 7 | 15 | 52 | 29-30 | 1-2 | |
2019 | Pittsburgh | 20 | 18 | 38 | 54 | 1 | 1 |
Table shows league leaders in sacks over each of the last 30 years, with where they ranked in takeaways that season. Three other teams that led the NFL in sacks also made it into the top 5 in takeaways over the last decade. One of those teams was Pittsburgh itself (2010).
With T.J. Watt (pictured) leading the pass rush and Minkah Fitzpatrick looking like a nice acquisition for the secondary, Pittsburgh will probably grade out favorably next season, too.
--Andy Richardson