5 things we learned: Steelers' run defense makes wrong kind of history

Five things we learned from Ravens 28, Steelers 14:

1. Running on empty

Fifty years ago, the Steelers authored the greatest run-stopping performance in NFL history when they held the Minnesota Vikings to 17 yards on 21 carries en route to a 16-6 victory in Super Bowl IX.

Imagine what Joe Greene, Jack Ham, Jack Lambert, Donnie Shell and Mel Blount must have been thinking watching what took place Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium.

The Steelers allowed the most postseason rushing yards in their proud history, giving up 299 to Derrick Henry, Lamar Jackson and company. It would have been a tidy 300 had Jackson not kneeled for a 1-yard loss on the final play of the game.

What made the defensive performance so difficult to watch is the Steelers knew exactly what the Ravens were going to do, and they were powerless to stop it. They tried to focus on stopping one of the Ravens’ dynamic duo but were unable to keep either from making it look so easy.

For a franchise that once prided itself on stopping the run, it was unsettling to see Henry gain 157 of his 186 yards after contact, according to Next Gen Stats. Per the NFL’s statistical arm, the Steelers had 12 missed tackles trying to bring down Henry.

Worse, the Steelers appeared to get back in the game when they got a touchdown in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 21-7. The Ravens needed just four plays to restore the 21-point advantage, with Henry breaking free for a 44-yard score.

2. Changes up front

Cameron Heyward proved the doubters wrong when he was named to the first-team All-Pro list at 35. It came after he received a contract extension that was puzzling at the time given his age and injuries in the 2023 season.

Heyward could have taken the second half off after he was evaluated for a concussion following a hit to the head before intermission. Not only did Heyward return, he finished with 10 tackles, including two for a loss.

The problem for the Steelers is, they have little support for Heyward on the defensive line. It’s time for the Steelers to rebuild the defensive line much the way they have tried to restock the offensive line in recent seasons. Keeanu Benton is a nice complementary piece, but the Steelers need to get younger up front. They found a potential Hall of Fame player in Heyward in the 2011 draft. They need to use their draft capital to find another in 2025.

3. Fields day

So much for leaving no stone unturned on offense. The Steelers supposedly had several packages dialed up for backup quarterback Justin Fields. But he was on the field for just two snaps.

Fields entered at quarterback on a third-and-1 on the opening drive and handed off to running back Jaylen Warren. The next time he appeared, the Steelers were trailing 14-0 late in the second quarter. His pass for tight end Darnell Washington was incomplete.

After that, Fields went back into storage for the rest of the game.

Starter Russell Wilson could hardly be faulted considering the Steelers ran just 18 plays in the first half compared to 41 for the Ravens. And Wilson threw touchdown passes to Van Jefferson and George Pickens in the second half.

Had the Steelers gotten more possessions in the first half, maybe Fields could have been a factor. It never materialized.

4. Jones is all right

Dan Moore’s ankle injury that he suffered late in the first half led to the Steelers calling on Calvin Anderson, freshly activated from injured reserve, to play left tackle the rest of the game.

Broderick Jones, the left tackle of the future, never strayed from his post on the right side of the line. The way the offense was struggling heading into the second half, wouldn’t it have been worth it to get Jones some experience on the left side and flip Anderson to right tackle? While it’s true such a move would have left the Steelers with two unproven commodities on the right side — Spencer Anderson was starting at right guard — what did they have to lose? It already was unrealistic that the Steelers were going to win the game. Jones could have benefited from some snaps at his natural position.

5. See ya next year?

The Steelers enter the offseason with 19 players on the 53-man roster set to hit free agency. That doesn’t include three players on injured reserve. Jaylen Warren will be a restricted free agent.

The list of impending free agents includes starters Russell Wilson, Najee Harris, Moore, Donte Jackson and Elandon Roberts. Fields and No. 3 quarterback Kyle Allen also will be free agents, meaning the Steelers could have an entirely revamped group of passers for the second year in a row.

The way the defense performed down the stretch it might be time for the Steelers to explore a trade involving Minkah Fitzpatrick ($15.5 million base salary) and moving on from Larry Ogunjobi, whose release would provide a $7 million cap savings. The $2.8 million allocated to kick return specialist and occasional running back Cordarrelle Patterson also could be spent elsewhere.