The recipe to winning a Super Bowl has changed with the times, and coincidentally with the rule book, as offensive players are favored, leading to higher scoring games and thus, more ratings. Nowadays, a team can advance to the biggest spectacle in sports with a standout offense and a shoddy defense. Glancing back through time, the Steelers’ calling card has been defense, whether it be the Steel Curtain units of the 70s or the more modern day versions. However, due to Father Time, their current defense is a shell of it’s former championship-caliber self.
The downward slide seemed to occur during the 2011 season, fresh off their Super Bowl loss to the Packers, and has been ongoing since.