How the Pittsburgh Steelers contained Lamar Jackson in Week 11

• More blitzes than typical: The Steelers blitzed on 41.7% of passing snaps, up from their season-long fee of 28.1%.

• Keeping Lamar Jackson within the pocket: Pittsburgh held Jackson to zero scrambles scramble for 0 yards, his lowest scrambling whole in two years.

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Estimated studying time: 5 minutes

Week 11 handled NFL viewers to a different high-intensity, scrappy showdown between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers — with much more on the road than typical.

The Steelers rode numerous Ravens errors — specifically, two missed Justin Tucker discipline objectives, three turnovers and 12 penalties — to their fourth straight win over their archrivals, shifting them into first place within the AFC North and saying themselves as a authentic AFC contender.

What shouldn’t be misplaced within the shuffle of a sloppy affair on either side, although, is that Pittsburgh’s protection did what few others have over the previous few years: shut down Lamar Jackson. Yes, Jackson was the sufferer of some unhealthy fortune (premature penalties, drops, and so on.), however he performed his worst sport of the 2024 season, posting only a 64.0 general and 57.5 passing grade.

For Mike Tomlin’s bunch, Sunday’s efficiency was one other feather within the cap of what could be the league’s most ferocious protection and one other instance of Pittsburgh discovering a approach to neutralize the two-time MVP. So, how did the Steelers act as Jackson’s Kryptonite but once more?

Let’s begin with the protection applied by Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. The Steelers haven’t been a protection of heavy disguise underneath Austin, primarily working out of Cover 3 and Cover 1. From Week 1 to Week 10, Pittsburgh ran Cover 3 on 44.7% of its defensive snaps, with 27.8% of snaps being Cover 1.

However, Austin flipped the change on Jackson in Week 11, defaulting to extra Cover 1 (45.9% of snaps) than Cover 3 (34.4%). That single-high man prevalence was additionally the system Pittsburgh employed in its Week 5, 2023, win in opposition to Jackson and the Ravens — and has labored in favor of defenses all through the previous few years.

Lamar Jackson’s Grades Against Coverage Types Since 2021

Along the traces of simplicity, the Steelers had scarcely blitzed for a lot of the season, doing so on simply 28.1% of snaps via Week 10. After all, whenever you boast two of the top-five gamers in general grade (T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward) and the greatest line of defense in soccer, there’s not a ton of motive to.

But in opposition to Jackson, Austin was far more aggressive: the Steelers blitzed on 41.7% of passing snaps, tied for the fourth-highest fee of any protection in Week 11. That system labored phenomenally, as Jackson went simply 8-for-15 with 104 yards, one landing, one interception, zero big-time throws, zero turnover-worthy performs and a 63.1 general grade in opposition to the blitz in Week 11.

That’s a far cry from his season-long numbers when coping with an additional rusher, the place his 86.9 general grade leads the league.

Even when not blitzing, Pittsburgh received inventive with its four-man seems to be, using extra stunts than typical.

On this third down, edge rusher Nick Herbig loops round Keeanu Benton superbly. Baltimore left guard Patrick Mekari is late to choose up the twist, which provides Herbig a free shot at Jackson — and alters the accuracy of the move. This play was ultimately dominated incomplete.

Probably the largest basis for Pittsburgh’s defensive success was the power to maintain Jackson within the pocket — which nearly no NFL protection has really executed since his debut. All instructed, Jackson scrambled zero occasions for 0 yards, which marked the primary time the two-time MVP was held to 0 scramble yards since Week 11, 2022. Yes, that’s two full years in the past.

Pittsburgh has been the NFL’s greatest protection all 12 months at stopping scramble alternatives, shutting down Jackson and Jayden Daniels in consecutive weeks when it comes to dashing as performs break down. Much of that stems from premium rush lane self-discipline, plus rallying to the quarterback as he extends.

Here, Pittsburgh employs solely a four-man rush however mugs Patrick Queen, who ultimately drops into zone protection. Benton forces Jackson out of the pocket along with his preliminary rush, however Preston Smith does glorious work in squeezing Jackson out extensive.

Being in a dime formation allows the Steelers to have additional pace on the sphere, which pays off: Cameron Sutton leaves his hook drop task to chop off a scramble lane for Jackson, who’s finally sacked.

Even when he was granted time to throw, Jackson was uncharacteristically inaccurate. His precise decision-making based mostly on protection seems to be and leverage appeared satisfactory, however he was surprisingly off in getting the ball the place he wished. Jackson’s 63% adjusted completion share was his lowest since Week 9, 2022, and he was significantly ineffective on deep passes, lacking all 4 of his tries.

With the Ravens on the Steelers’ 30-yard line, Baltimore had a key alternative to lastly punch the ball into the finish zone. But poor accuracy from Jackson value the staff in a vital second.

Jackson notices Pittsburgh’s man protection and targets Diontae Johnson, who beats Beanie Bishop Jr. on an out-and-up route. The downside is that Jackson’s throw leads Johnson too far up the sideline, stopping him from even getting one foot in bounds. Plus, Jackson had Zay Flowers extensive open for a simple landing throughout the center of the sphere (though it possible wasn’t his first learn).

This move was one other nice instance of a powerful processing choice however unhealthy ball location. With Pittsburgh working Cover 3, Jackson understands {that a} fast gap will open between the sphere nook and linebacker beneath. No. 8 sees Mark Andrews extensive open on a seam shot — an amazing route to focus on — however the throw isn’t wherever near the tight finish.

Even as Jackson often purchased extra time for himself, that didn’t show an answer. The Ravens QB accomplished solely 11-of-25 makes an attempt for a 64.6 passing grade when holding onto the ball for two.5 seconds or longer. That’s diametrically totally different than his season-long 91.2 passing grade when extending a play.

On this play, Jackson purchased nearly eight full seconds within the pocket to fabricate one thing downfield, working from his proper to the left. Although Flowers was given appreciable cushion in opposition to Pittsburgh’s Cover 2, Jackson’s throw was completely airmailed.

In one of many Ravens’ most important video games of the season, Jackson essentially didn’t play to the MVP degree we’ve come to count on, whether or not via the air or floor. Much credit score is owed to Austin, Tomlin and the Steelers for throwing wrinkles within the staff’s sport plan, stopping Jackson from escaping and disrupting his typical rhythm.

Overall, Pittsburgh’s stout exhibiting in opposition to the NFL’s greatest offense marked consecutive weeks of sturdy defensive play in opposition to prolific offenses — and in addition introduced the Steelers with a authentic case as one of many AFC’s prime squads.