This shows how dull the Steelers offense has been

Kenny Pickett. Michael Longo/For USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK

This one stat shows how dull the Steelers offense has been

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 11/14/22

The Pittsburgh Steelers were able to grind out a 20-10 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, but it was another reminder of how much their offense struggles to make plays.

Their two touchdowns in the win were both one-yard plays from George Pickens and Kenny Pickett. While they had some big plays on the ground from Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, and Pickett, and one deep shot down the sidelines to Diontae Johnson, it was not a very explosive performance offensively.

That has been a continuing trend. The offense has been so dull, that in nine games their longest offensive touchdown this season is only eight yards.

Eight.

That came in Week 2 against the New England Patriots on a Mitchell Trubisky to Pat Freiermuth pass.

For context, look at the longest offensive touchdown for every other NFL team, via Warren Sharp.

yardage of longest 2022 TD scored:

98: BUF
79: BAL
75: LAR, WAS, ATL, CAR, HOU
74: SEA
67: DEN
66: NYJ
65: NYG
61: CHI, JAX
60: CIN, MIA, NO
58: LV
57: SF, DAL
53: PHI, MIN
51: DET
45: KC
44: NE
41: CLE
38: ARI
37: GB
32: IND
29: TEN
28: TB
23: LAC
8: PIT
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) November 9, 2022

And more context, via Sharp.

for those wondering about historical comparisons:

the 2022 Steelers are the only team without a TD of at least 15 yards thru the first 9 weeks of a season since at least 2000, which is as far back as TruMedia data goes
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) November 10, 2022

That is rough.

The last time the Steelers scored an offensive touchdown from outside of the red zone (longer than 20 yards), was a 37-yard run from Harris in Week 17 of last year. Over the past 14 games, including playoffs, that is their only touchdown of more than 20 yards.

Their offensive touchdowns during those 14 games have come from the following distances: 1, 15, 37 (Harris run), 5, 6, 15, 1, 8, 5, 1, 1, 2, 6, 6, 7, 1, 1, and 1 yards (via Pro-Football-Reference).

All of last season they only scored six touchdowns from outside of the red zone.

They do have two defensive touchdowns during that stretch of 26 (T.J. Watt) and 31 (Minkah Fitzpatrick) yards, but the offense just does not have the ability to score from outside of the 10-yard line. Opposing defenses just do not need to fear them.

As long as the offensive line struggles as much as it has and Pickett goes through his growing pains, and the scheme remains as stale as it is, that should be expected to continue. We have seen enough evidence that it will.

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