If there was an area of the Steelers that was more disappointing than any other last season, it was the team's defense.
A dominant unit in 2019 and 2020, the Steelers slipped in 2021, finishing last in the NFL stopping the run and 20th in scoring defense.
That said, there were still some things the defense did well. The Steelers led the NFL in sacks for a record fifth-consecutive season. They ranked eighth in third down defense, allowing a conversation percentage of 37.1 percent. They had 94 tackles for a loss, which ranked second in the NFL.