No T.J. Watt? No problem.
The Pittsburgh Steelers rested a slew of key starters, including Watt and defensive tackle Cam Heyward, but still, the defense pressed on and continued its weekly quarterback harassment.
In Buffalo, with Tyson Alualu’s sack of Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Pittsburgh broke the record of consecutive games with a sack previously set by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (69). The Steelers streak began in Week 8 of the 2016 season against the Baltimore Ravens.
With defensive end Chris Wormley’s sack of Browns’ Baker Mayfield on Sunday, the Steelers sack-streak extended to 73 (Watt sacked Bengals’ Ryan Finley in Week 15 and Colts’ Philip Rivers in Week 16).
Pittsburgh dumped the passer a total of four times: Wormley for nine yards, linebacker Jayrone Elliott for seven yards (really, Baker just tripped after a failed attempt to evade Alex Highsmith), Highsmith for 10 yards and defensive end Stephon Tuitt for a loss of four.
Just imagine what this defense can do with the playoffs on the line. We’ll find out Sunday when the Steelers host the Browns at 8:15 ET.
[vertical-gallery id=484856]
[listicle id=485000]