The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the midst of the 2024 regular season, and with it being the team’s latest game fans’ hopes remain high heading into the final stretch of the season. The hope is there is a winning performance on the horizon on Wednesday in Week 17 when the team hosts the Kansas City Chiefs.

What exactly do the Steelers need to do to on offense and defense to claim their eleventh victory of 2024? Let’s break it down…

Offense

No More Turnovers

If you are wondering the last time the Steelers had a game where they didn’t turn the ball over, you’d have to go back to Russell Wilson’s first game as a starter vs. the New York Jets in prime time. Yes, it’s been a while. The issue with the Steelers’ turnovers isn’t the quantity, it’s when they occur. The Steelers have been giving the ball up at the most inopportune times imaginable, and if they want to beat the Chiefs they’ll need to keep it clean for the first time in a long time.

Run the ball, win T.O.P

Over the last five games the Steelers have barely surpassed 100 yards on average as a team on the ground. 104.6, to be exact. The running game has been non-existent at times, and it has killed the team’s ability to suck the life out of a game by controlling the ball and the time of possession. At one point the Steelers were the top team in the NFL in regards to time of possession, but after the past two games they have found themselves slipping in this regard. The best defense vs. a good offense/quarterback? Keep them off the field. With the potential of no Chris Jones on Christmas, the Steelers need to dominate the trenches.

Get Dynamic

George Pickens is slated to play, barring any type of setback, and this should open up the offense. But it shouldn’t just keep defenders out of the box to stop the run, but will also increase opportunities for players like Calvin Austin III. Austin has improved his play tremendously this season, and in the past two games has shown signs of being a genuine WR2. You have to think the return of Pickens will give him better matchups, and hopefully the Steelers can exploit those. In all, the Steelers need to be able to move the ball in chunks, something they’ve struggled with since Pickens injured his hamstring.

Defense

Stop the Run

Just like the Steelers running game the last five games, the Steelers run defense has struggled during that same stretch. Can’t run it, and can’t stop the run is a recipe for disaster. In the last five games the Steelers are surrendering 126.6 yards per game on the ground, and this is something which will need to be rectified quickly. After Derrick Henry and the Ravens bludgeoned the run defense for over 200 yards, it’s a gut check moment for the Steelers. Will the returns of DeShon Elliott and Larry Ogunjobi help? It certainly won’t hurt, but the run defense has bigger issues than just two players missing from the lineup.

Take it Away

The Steelers are the top team in the league in regards to takeaways, and this trend will have to continue for them to beat the defending Super Bowl champions. The Chiefs have turned it over 14 times this season, with Mahomes throwing 11 INTs, but they’ve been playing a cleaner brand of football in recent weeks. If the Steelers get opportunities, like they did vs. the Ravens a week ago, they need to cash in on those chances and give their offense some help. Could we see a defensive score? It certainly would be a great gift on this Christmas.

Get after Patrick

The Chiefs have a banged up offensive line, and they are having to rotate their tackles for yet another week. Patrick Mahomes has been sacked 36 times this season, and it will be key for the Steelers defense to get after Mahomes and harass him as much as they possibly can. The Chiefs are averaging 23.7 points per game, and the only time they surpassed 30 points was in overtime vs. the Carolina Panthers. After slowing down the run game is putting serious pressure on one of the game’s best quarterbacks. If they can do that, they have a chance.

I talk about this, and MUCH more on the “Let’s Ride”, and you can hear that podcast in the player below this article. In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the team as they gear up for game time!