Steelers News: The statistics from the Week 3 dud in California were dreadful

The Pittsburgh Steelers are moving into Week 4 of the NFL regular season, and as the team prepares for the Cincinnati Bengals, we continue to provide you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over until the season starts!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how the statistics for the Steelers in Week 3 were almost uglier than the overall performance put on the field in Santa Clara, CA.

Let’s get to the news:

• Thought the Week 3 loss to the 49ers was bad? Wait till you see some of the stats...

Tim Benz: Steelers game stats are as ugly as their 0-3 record

By: Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

After a terrible 0-3 start for the Pittsburgh Steelers, fans may be wondering if the team is really as bad as its record.

Sadly, it is.

If you look deeper at the numbers than just the winless start, the statistics are even worse than you may think.

Let’s start with third-down conversions. The Black and Gold rank 29th in the NFL in third-down conversion percentage at 26%. Over three games, the Steelers have converted only nine third-down attempts. The Miami Dolphins are the only team with fewer conversions. They have eight.

As a result of an inability to stay on the field, the Steelers also rank 30th in yards per game. Their 269.3 average is only better than that of the Dolphins and New York Jets.

Those metrics go hand-in-glove with why the team has accumulated only 49 points, good for just 27th in the league.

The third-down issue is a defensive problem, too. Opposing teams are converting third downs at an alarming clip of 47%. That’s seventh from the bottom of the NFL.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Was Minkah Fitzpatrick’s debut as good as everyone thought it was?

Tim Benz: Minkah Fitzpatrick’s Steelers debut was microcosm of debate to acquire him

By: Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

If you were looking for crystallization of the entire Minkah Fitzpatrick debate, you got it in his first game as a Pittsburgh Steeler Sunday in San Francisco.

If you share my opinion about Fitzpatrick as a player, you saw all the reasons to be happy about the transaction.

He was involved in two turnovers and was disruptive to the San Francisco 49ers offense, blitzing more often than anticipated.

If you share my logic about the rationale of the trade, you saw all the reasons why it shouldn’t have been made.

Because for as good as Fitzpatrick was in his first game wearing Black and Gold, he couldn’t impact the game enough to tilt the result toward the Steelers on an afternoon when the opponent seemed to be actively trying to lose.

The 49ers were so bad that they committed five turnovers — two involving Fitzpatrick — yet still couldn’t lose to these woeful Steelers.

The 49ers ended up winning 24-20.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• There were some mixed results, and opinions about Mason and Minkah after Week 3.

Mixed results for Rudolph, Minkah in Steelers loss

By: Brooke Pryor, ESPN

Mason Rudolph sought out defensive tackle Cameron Heyward after the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 24-20 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

”The game is on us,” the quarterback told him. “We had so many opportunities with turnovers in the first half and the momentum swing with the defense. We’ve got to put more points on the board for you guys.”

On an afternoon where the defense forced five turnovers, the offense’s failure to capitalize on the takeaways resulted in the Steelers’ third consecutive loss. Meanwhile, the 49ers forced two turnovers and scored a touchdown off each.

”We turned the ball over twice,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “They scored two touchdowns in the second half, and really that’s the difference in the game. In the first half, we were getting turnovers and we were settling for field goals. That’s the storyline of the game.”

The loss also marked the first start for two important members of the franchise going forward this season: Rudolph and defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Their afternoons were mixed bags, but each finished the Steelers’ 24-20 loss with a handful of positive signs.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Media Scrum Videos

• Social Media Madness