The Pittsburgh Steelers have certainly had an interesting 2023 season, one that has left fans scratching their heads as they find themselves winning games despite being outperformed on offense. While they've managed to hold a winning record, it hasn't come in the traditional fashion. This unique situation caught the attention of none other than NBA superstar LeBron James, who couldn't help but draw a parallel between the Steelers peculiar wins and his own team's struggles.
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LeBron James fields questions during the Los Angeles Lakers media day on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, in El Segundo, California.
While it may be cool for Steeler Nation to hear one of the greatest athletes of all time talking about their team. What isn't cool is being compared to the Lakers. Hopefully, having Offensive Coordinator, Matt Canada on the sidelines, the run game getting going and Diontae Johnson getting into the end zone can light a spark for this eye-bleeding Steelers offense.
Steelers And Lakes Similar According To James
After the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a 19-point loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday night, James was candid about his team's woes. In doing so, he drew a notable comparison to the Steelers.
"We're like the Pittsburgh Steelers right now. The Pittsburgh Steelers right now have not out-gained or out-scored any of their opponents in this season right now, and yet they've got a winning record."
Steelers Path to Victory
The Steelers paths to victory this season have been far from conventional. In each of their first eight games, they found themselves being outperformed in offensive yards by their opponents. This unique situation is a rarity in the NFL, with only 34 instances of a team being out-gained in each of its first eight games in the league's long history, as per the Elias Sports Bureau. But what makes this year truly special is that it marks the first time any of these out-gained teams have maintained a winning record.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers offense celebrates a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in Pittsburgh, PA.
Numbers Don't Tell the Whole Story
The statistics are undoubtedly eyebrow-raising. The Steelers have been out-gained by a whopping 790 yards, and they've been outscored by 30 points over the course of the 2023 season. On paper, this might not seem like the kind of season that would lead to a winning record, but sometimes numbers don't tell the whole story as the Steelers currently sit at 5-3 and have playoff hopes.
James's Season
James, now 38, continues to defy the expectations of aging in professional sports. At the start of his 21st NBA season, he's been nothing short of superhuman. Averaging 24.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game, he's demonstrated his enduring ability to impact the game. His efficiency is impressive, with a field goal percentage of 56.5 percent and a three-point shooting percentage of 35.5 percent.
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LeBron James during pre game against the Orlando Magic
However, despite James's individual brilliance, the Lakers' offensive struggles have been hard to ignore. Their offensive production has been inconsistent, much like the Steelers. In a league where scoring points is a crucial element of winning games, the Lakers are currently ranked 16th in points per game, averaging just 111.8, which leaves them in the bottom half of NBA teams.
Not a Compliment, But A Common Struggle
It's important to note that James's comparison to the Steelers isn't meant as a compliment. Instead, it's a reflection of both teams' underperformance. James hopes that the Lakers can steer clear of adopting the "winning despite the stats" mentality that the Steelers have found themselves in this season.
The Steelers unique paths to winning games has raised eyebrows and drawn comparisons from unexpected sources. While their struggles might not be ideal, they've managed to maintain a winning record despite being out-gained by their opponents in every game. Whether this is sustainable for the rest of the season remains to be seen, but it's clear that the NFL is witnessing a different kind of winning team in Pittsburgh in 2023. As Steelers fans will hope that the offense can start to out-gain opponents in the traditional way, for now they’ll continue taking the wins.
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