The Pittsburgh Steelers took to the field for their final contest of the 2023 season as they fell in defeat in Buffalo. After fighting their way back from a rough three-game losing streak late in the season to qualify for the playoffs, they couldn’t do enough to move past the first round and now have entered the long offseason.

So without further ado, here are some of the numbers involved in the Steelers Wild Card loss to the Bills.

-2

It’s been a telling stat all season, and it cost the Steelers in the playoffs. With the Steelers losing a fumble and throwing an interception, they ended up on the wrong end of the turnover battle. The Steelers ultimately ended up with a -2 turnover margin as for only the fourth time this season the Steelers did not have a takeaway in the game. In the other three games this season, the Steelers went 0–3 and lost every game by at least 14 points.

14

Not only did the Steelers have two turnovers in the game, they gave up 14 points off of those turnovers. The first turnover, the fumble by George Pickens, saw the Bills score a 29-yard touchdown on the very next play. The interception Mason Rudolph threw in the end zone not only took potential points off the board for the Steelers, but the Bills drove the length of the field for their own touchdown.

14

Hitting the same number again, the Steelers were out scored 14–0 in the first quarter of the game. Ultimately going down 21–0 before answering with their own touchdown, the difference in this game from a scoring perspective was completely in the first quarter. Otherwise, the teams were even in scoring every other quarter as they both scored 7 points in the 2nd quarter, 3 points of the 3rd quarter, and 7 points in the 4th quarter.

5 & 4

The Pittsburgh Steelers received the opening kickoff and ran 5 offensive plays before having to punt. Those 5 plays were the Steelers only offensive plays of the game in which the teams were tied. On the Steelers next possession, they had the opportunity to tie the game but only ran three offensive plays before having to punt. After holding the Bills, the Steelers next offensive possession consisted of one play which resulted in a turnover. Those 4 players were the last of the game in which the Steelers had the opportunity to tie the game with that possession. The other 54 offensive plays the Steelers ran in the game they were down multiple scores and did not have the opportunity to pull even with the Bills.

0/6

The Steelers came up empty on their first six positions of the game. Being forced to punt the first two positions, the Steelers followed it up with a fumble, another punt, an interception, and their fourth and final punt. With only 11 positions in the game, the Steelers came away empty for the first 54.5% of their total possessions.

52

The play that might have sealed the Steelers fate in the first half was when already trailing 14–0. On the seventh play of the ensuing possession when quarterback Josh Allen was facing a third and seven from their own 48-yard line,  he scrambled for a first down and broke tackles in the secondary to complete the 52-yard touchdown run. The play ultimately ended up being 30% of the Bills rushing yards in the game.

3 for 58; 2

Part of the reason the Steelers got behind early was their inability to cover the Bills tight ends. Between Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid, the two players had 3 receptions for 58 yards and 2 touchdowns in the first quarter. For the remainder of the game, the Steelers only gave up one more reception to a tight end which was a 10-yard catch by Kincaid in the third quarter.

106

The Steelers rushing attack never really got going against the Bills. While getting down 21–0 in the first half can put a damper on the running attack, the Steelers ran for a total of 106 yards on 23 carries for a 4.6 YPC. The leading rusher in the game was Jaylen Warren with 38 yards on 8 carries followed closely by Najee Harris with 37 yards on 12 carries. Were it not for Mason Rudolph’s scramble for 10 yards of the final play of the game, the Steelers would not have reached the century mark in rushing yards.

38.5

Another place where Steelers came up on the short end of things was their punting where on 4 punts they only averaged 38.5 yards per punt. While the Steelers once again had no punt return yards, averaging less than 40 yards per punt with none of them being inside the 20 yard line is unacceptable. The three punts Pressley Harvin had going into the wind were for 31 yards, 42 yards, and 30 yards while his lone punt with the wind went for 51 yards. What is even more sad is that the Bills only punt of the second half by Sam Martin, which was after he injured his hamstring, went for 45 yards, longer than a Harvin‘s average on the day.

7

Not only is it disappointing that the Steelers fell in defeat, it means their 2023 season is over. This is the last time this collection of players will put on their uniforms and take the field for the Pittsburgh Steelers. There will be players added iand players lost, hopefully bringing improvements to the roster. But the most disappointing thing of all is that Steelers fans now have to wait 7 months until they can see the Steelers take the field again in August in preseason action for the 2024 season.

So there are some numbers to help put the Steelers Wild Card loss in perspective. That puts an end to the Steelers 2023 season as now they join 23 other teams who are now preparing for next season.

So what numbers from Monday’s game stand out to you? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.