1. Steelers trend toward franchise records
Sacks became an official stat kept by the NFL in 1982. While the unofficial standard of sacks before that year shows a lack of foresight by the NFL and its statisticians, it also means all official records relating to sacks come from the past 40 years. The Steelers are approaching two franchise sack records this season.
In 2017, the Steelers set the franchise record for sacks in a season with 56. Heyward led the way with 12 and earned First-Team All-Pro honors. Vince Williams contributed eight sacks from his inside linebacker position. Watt, who was a rookie at that point, added seven and Dupree accounted for six.
Two years later, the Steelers are threatening to break that record yet again. With three games left in the season, Pittsburgh has a league-leading 48 sacks. If they average three sacks per game for the rest of the year, they’ll finish with 57 sacks and reset the franchise record.
Four Steelers have at least four sacks this year. Nose tackle, Javon Hargrave has four sacks. Heyward has eight sacks to go along with a new career-high in tackles. Dupree is second on the team with 9.5 sacks. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, his breakout season came in a contract year. It’s unlikely the team can afford to extend him on a long-term deal.
Watt leads the team in sacks with 12.5 sacks. The future All-Pro has an outside shot at breaking James Harrison‘s franchise, single-season sack record. Harrison set the record at 16 in 2008, the season he was the Defensive Player of the Year. It will require a late push, but Watt can surpass Harrison.