Tons of takeaways highlight 5 things learned from Steelers' win over Rams

Five things we learned from Steelers 17, Rams 12:

1. Take me away

The Steelers continue to rewrite the franchise record book with their ability to force turnovers, reversing a weakness from the 2018 season.

Four more takeaways were produced against the Rams — three interceptions, one fumble return for a touchdown — giving the Steelers 26 through nine games. That’s 11 more than the Steelers accumulated through 16 games last year. It also ranks second in the NFL and is the most for a Steelers team after nine games since 1987.

Moreover, the Steelers have gotten at least three turnovers in each of the past five games, the third-longest stretch in franchise history. If they duplicate the feat Thursday against Cleveland, the Steelers will tie the 1989 defense, which did it six weeks in a row, in the No. 2 spot.

The record belongs to the 1974 Steel Curtain defense that did it eight games in a row en route to the Steelers winning their first championship.

After leading or being tied for the NFL lead in sacks the past two seasons, the Steelers have dropped the quarterback 33 times. The last time the Steelers had more after nine games was in 2008 when they had 34 sacks.

On an individual basis, Minkah Fitzpatrick’s interceptions in three consecutive games was last accomplished by Troy Polamalu in 2008, and Fitzpatrick became the first Steelers player to have a pick-6 and fumble return for touchdown in a season since 1996 when Carnell Lake and Rod Woodson each did it.

2. Another reunion

The gathering of members of the 1979 Super Bowl XIV championship team wasn’t the only reunion involving the Steelers and Rams.

Steelers inside linebacker Mark Barron faced the team that cut him in the offseason, and he responded with his best game of the season. Whether he had extra incentive or whether he had some insight into the Rams offense — or a combination of both — Barron led the Steelers with 10 tackles, all solo.

Barron was on the field for 71 of 79 snaps, a 92% rate that was his highest total during the four-game winning streak. The Steelers kept nickel corner Mike Hilton on the field for 70 snaps, and these decisions drastically cut into the playing time of rookie inside linebacker Devin Bush.

Bush was on the field for 35 snaps (45%), and it marked the first time this season that he played fewer than 76% of the snaps.

3. Just enough

The evolution of Mason Rudolph as a starting quarterback continued with mixed results.

Rudolph took a sack in the end zone for the second game in a row, but he did not throw an interception on any of his 38 attempts despite heavy pressure from the Aaron Donald-led Rams defense.

For the second week in a row, the offense got into the end zone just once. For the second week in a row, it was enough to help produce a win.

Rudolph directed two long drives, one in each half, that got the job done against the Rams. In the first quarter, a nine-play, 82-yard drive ended with James Washington’s twisting 3-yard touchdown catch in the left corner of the end zone. Rudolph had completions of 20 yards to JuJu Smith-Schuster and 30 to Diontae Johnson. He also zipped a 13-yarder to Washington that gave the Steelers a first down at the Rams 5. Two plays later, the score was tied, 7-7.

In the second half, Rudolph was 6 of 7 on a 14-play, 60-yard drive that exhausted eight minutes off the clock and resulted in Chris Boswell’s 33-yard field goal with 2:46 remaining. He found Washington three times for 40 yards and executed the fourth-and-1 pass to Trey Edmunds that kept the chains moving early in the drive.

4. Deep change

Although he left the game with an injury, Ryan Switzer may have lost his job as punt returner regardless of his health.

Diontae Johnson put some spark in the return game when he averaged 7.3 yards on three tries. Contrast that to Switzer, who lost a yard on his only return and had two fair catches. He also gained 20 yards on his lone kickoff return.

Johnson excelled on special teams at Toledo and given the lackluster returns this season, it was only a matter of time before he worked his way into a more prominent role.

Based on the fearlessness he showed against the Rams, he may have earned the job full time.

5. Special performance

Trey Edmunds got the interception on the Rams’ fake punt, but it was pressure on the edge that resulted in Johnny Hekker throwing a wobbler into the running back’s arms. Jordan Dangerfield rushed from the left and Vince Williams charged in from the right.

An overlooked aspect of the special teams was the work of Steelers punter Jordan Berry. He wisely didn’t attempt any passes, but he was called upon nine times in the game and had a 40.2 net average. Four of his kicks landed inside the 20, and he had a long punt of 59 yards.

Boswell made his only field-goal attempt even though it was his false start that tacked on five additional yards.

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