3 problems the Commanders must fix before Week 10 game vs. Steelers

Commanders must focus on discipline

The Pittsburgh Steelers win football games by making fewer mistakes than their opponents. As just mentioned, they have grabbed 10 interceptions on the year. Meanwhile, quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields have thrown just one interception in 218 pass attempts.

Running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren have not fumbled this season. Other than now-benched signal-caller Fields, the Steelers have only fumbled three times over the first half of 2024. One of the ways Pittsburgh triumphs is by winning the turnover battle.

They also usually win when it comes to penalties. Against the Denver Broncos in Week 2, Pittsburgh was aided greatly by three infringements against star cornerback Patrick Surtain II. The following week in their win over the Los Angeles Chargers, their opponents committed three defensive penalties with the game on the line in the fourth quarter. In their last game against the Giants, they benefitted greatly from 11 flags.

When a team wins these kinds of turnover or penalty matchups once or twice, it may be a fluke. But when it happens consistently every week, it is because this is a point of emphasis.

The Steelers may not have the best talent in the league, especially on offense. But more often than not, they will not beat themselves. The Washington Commanders cannot commit undisciplined penalties and expect to win.

Pittsburgh is coming off their bye week. Mike Tomlin may be the best coach in the entire league coming out of an extended rest period. Andy Reid had gaudy post-bye numbers earlier in his career but they have come back down to earth of late. Pittsburgh has not lost a game coming out of the bye week since 2016. That’s an astonishing stat in today’s NFL and it should worry all Commanders’ fans.

Tomlin is going to have his squad prepared for Washington. The Commanders need to play their very best to continue a remarkable start to the campaign.

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