The Pittsburgh Steelers will have a large task in their upcoming Week 15 game. Not only will they have to try and score against the red-hot Philadelphia Eagles without George Pickens, but the defense will need to find a way to slow down Saquon Barkley, who is on pace to have the greatest season by a running back in NFL history. The Steelers are known for stepping up defensively when they need to, but will they be able to handle this Herculean task that kicks off a stretch of three games in 11 days?
Since signing with the Eagles from the division-rival New York Giants, Barkley has done nothing but terrorize the league. His backwards hurdle broke the internet, as something like that has never been seen. Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette broke down exactly what kind of season Barkley is currently having.
"In 1984, Dickerson rushed for 2,105 yards, breaking the record previously held by O.J. Simpson," Fittipaldo explains. "Barkley has 1,623 yards through the first 13 games of the season. All Barkley has to do is maintain his season average over the final four games of the season, and he’ll break the record by 15 yards... Barkley is averaging 125 rushing yards per game and an incredible 6.1 yards per carry. When Dickerson broke the record, his yards-per-carry average was 5.6."
It's not like the Eagles got lucky and played soft teams across the board. They went up against the number one run defense back in Week 13, and Barkley lit them up for 107 rushing yards and a touchdown, as Fittipaldo also mentions. If the Baltimore Ravens can't slow down the dynamic running back for 60 minutes, how could the Steelers achieve that?
Throughout the first 13 games of the 2024 season, the Steelers have allowed just 115 more rushing yards total than the Ravens, which cements them in fourth place in terms of run defense. They have had some hiccups here and there, but for the most part, this front seven has done exactly what they were brought in to do, and that's to stop the Steelers from being a doormat for opposing running backs.
Patrick Queen was one of the many linebackers brought in to make that change, and he was appointed the role of quarterback of the defense. He has done his job well, and he explained to Fittipaldo how the Steelers are effective stopping the ground game, as well as why they have those occasional hiccups.
"Everyone is trusting each other," Queen said. "No one is going out there and doing more than they need to. Everyone is doing their job. We see on the few runs we do give up, someone is trying to do too much. That’s where I have to come in and make sure all the troops know we have to have each other’s backs and just play team football."
Every coach and player in every level preaches that mentality nonstop: football is a team sport. When someone tries to make a big stop and leave their assignment, the defense ends up allowing a big run. Every player has their lane and/or gap to cover, and if they swarm to the ball-carrier from their assigned spots together, the running back has nowhere to go.
Can The Steelers Truly Thrive With That Same Mentality Against Eagles?
Obviously, with a running back as explosive and strong as Barkley, that is easier said than done. He has the ability to run past tacklers, through tacklers, or just break their ankles with his agility. Even with his offensive line being elite and opening up holes for him all day, one can't just simply tackle Barkley like Robert Spillane did to Derrick Henry.
Even worse, the Steelers can't put all of their emphasis on Barkley. If they do, Jalen Hurts will torch this defense with his arm and legs. This Eagles offense has the ability to beat a team in every conceivable way. The Steelers can manage to shut down the Ravens' offense, so maybe they can do the same against the Eagles? It won't be easy though, especially with Hurts being a better pocket passer than Lamar Jackson.
