As is annual custom, we love our Pittsburgh Steelers “stats of the bizarre.” The quirky and funky numbers that we observe every week and after each sport. As we’ve carried out in years previous, a preview of among the “bizarre” that sits on Pittsburgh’s docket to look at for all year long.
– When Russell Wilson begins Week 1, it’ll mark the primary time Pittsburgh’s began 4 completely different quarterbacks in 4 straight years since 1982-1985 when it rolled by means of Terry Bradshaw, Cliff Stoudt, David Woodley, and Mark Malone.
– If Russell Wilson is sacked 39 occasions this season, he’ll change into the NFL’s most-sacked QB in historical past, passing Tom Brady (who handed Ben Roethlisberger for the “prime” spot). Wilson has been dropped 527 occasions, Brady 565.
– With 1,113 yards dashing this season, RB Najee Harris will move John Henry Johnson and transfer into fifth place on the Steelers’ all-time dashing yards listing. From there, he’ll solely path Franco Harris, Jerome Bettis, Willie Parker, and Le’Veon Bell.
– Ought to Harris merely eclipse 1,000 yards dashing this yr, he’ll change into simply the 14th participant in NFL historical past to hurry for 1,000-plus yards in every of his first 4 seasons. And the primary to do it since Chris Johnson in 2011. Different notable names to realize the feat embody Adrian Peterson, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Tony Dorsett.
– Although the chances really feel lengthy, if George Pickens leads the NFL in yards per catch once more in 2024, he’ll be the primary Steeler to ever do it in consecutive years. The final participant to do it was the Los Angeles Rams’ Flipper Anderson in 1989-1990.
– With 15 sacks, T.J. Watt could have the second-most sacks of any participant within the official period (1982-present) in NFL historical past by means of his first eight years. That’ll give him 111.5, passing DeMarcus Ware and solely slotting him behind Reggie White’s 124. Deacon Jones holds the unofficial file with 128.
– As we famous earlier within the offseason, Watt wants 3.5 sacks over his first eight video games to be the second-fastest participant to 100 sacks in official historical past, staying forward of Ware (113) and solely behind White (96). As a reminder, if there’s a sack stat, White in all probability leads it. Massive brother J.J. did it in 120 video games. By the way in which, T.J. wants 18.5 sacks to beat J.J.’s profession mark.
– Cam Heyward’s subsequent sack will break a second-place tie with James Harrison for many in Steelers’ historical past. Each sit at 80.5.
– If Heyward can attain double-digit sacks, he’ll be the primary defensive deal with age 35 or older to take action since Corridor of Famer Steve McMichael in 1992.
– A mark he missed out on final yr, Heyward wants to seem in six video games to change into the sixth member of the Steelers’ “200 membership,” gamers to seem in 200 video games for the group. The others? Ben Roethlisberger (249), Mike Webster (220), WR Hines Ward (217), S Donnie Shell (201), and CB Mel Blount (200).
– A reminder of a degree I’ve said all year long. Cameron Johnston must common 47.1 yards per punt to set a single-season Steelers file for gross common. Bobby Joe Inexperienced is the present file holder at 47.0 in 1961.
– Kicker Chris Boswell must convert 18 additional factors to move Roy Gerela for third-most XPs in Steelers’ historical past. If he finishes with 32, he’ll overtake Jeff Reed for second place with solely Gary Anderson’s 416 in entrance of him. Boswell made 27 additional factors final season. His career-high is 43 in 2018.
– If Cordarrelle Patterson, or any Steeler, returns a kick for a landing this season, it’ll be Pittsburgh’s first because the 2017 regular-season finale when JuJu Smith-Schuster ran one again in opposition to the Cleveland Browns.
– If Pittsburgh fails to win the AFC North, it’ll be its fourth-straight yr with out a division crown. That’ll be the group’s longest drought since a seven-year stretch from 1985-1991.
– Ought to Pittsburgh end ranked within the 20s in scoring offense, it’ll be the primary time in franchise historical past that’s occurred 4 years working. Over the past three years, the Steelers have ranked twenty first, twenty sixth, and twenty eighth in factors per sport.
In equity, there have been lengthy durations the place the NFL had far fewer groups however nonetheless, there have been not less than 30 groups within the league for practically 30 years.
– Given Pittsburgh’s tough-looking finish to its schedule, a quick begin is most popular (in fact, a quick begin is all the time most popular irrespective of the top). If the Steelers can go above .500 their first 4 video games, it’ll be the primary time since 2020 once they started the yr 11-0 and solely the second time since 2018.
– A 13-win season for Mike Tomlin would tie him for the Tenth-most victories in NFL regular-season historical past. It might match the 186 gained by Chuck Knox all through his stints with the Buffalo Payments, Los Angeles Rams, and Seattle Seahawks (the place he as soon as coached LB and former Tomlin DC Keith Butler).
– A enjoyable, quirky one. As soon as Miles Killebrew steps onto the sphere in Atlanta Sunday, he’ll have formally begun his ninth season within the NFL. That can set a file for many NFL seasons by a participant from Southern Utah in that faculty’s historical past, breaking a tie with DB Len Walterscheid, who performed eight seasons within the NFL from 1977-1984. Killebrew entered the league in 2016.
