Steelers Stand Alone Atop PFF's NFL Run Defense Rankings
· Yahoo Sports
Steelers Stand Alone Atop PFF's NFL Run Defense Rankings originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have made stopping the run a major strength of their defense through the first seven weeks of the 2026 NFL season.
Visit xsportfeed.quest for more information.
Pittsburgh currently owns the highest-graded run defense in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. The Steelers received an 82.7 grade, making them the only team in the NFL to reach the 80-point mark.
Steel City Underground shared the latest rankings Saturday, with Pittsburgh holding a sizable lead over the rest of the league.
The Steelers alone at the top of this list: and the only team PFF has graded 80 or higher 👀 https://t.co/iboIFJKe7E
— 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 (@steelcityundrgr) October 31, 2026
The Jacksonville Jaguars rank second with a 76.3 grade, followed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings at 74.6. The Los Angeles Rams round out the top five at 71.1.
Pittsburgh's advantage is more than just a number. The defense has consistently made it difficult for opposing offenses to establish a ground game, allowing the Steelers to dictate the pace and force teams into more predictable passing situations.
That was particularly evident in the Steelers' Week 7 victory over the New Orleans Saints in Paris. Pittsburgh held New Orleans to just 18 rushing yards on 17 carries, limiting Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller throughout the matchup. The Saints finished with 281 total yards and 10 points in the 16-10 loss.
The Steelers have also been effective at disrupting runs before opposing ball carriers can get going. Pittsburgh is allowing just 0.7 yards per carry before contact, the best mark in the NFL, according to Yahoo Sports.
However, Pittsburgh will face another important test Sunday when it hosts the Cleveland Browns.
The Browns defeated the Steelers 27-24 in their first meeting in Week 4, scoring two rushing touchdowns. Cleveland totaled 112 net rushing yards in that matchup, showing that Pittsburgh's run defense is not without vulnerabilities.
With the rematch coming at Acrisure Stadium, the Steelers will have an opportunity to show how much their defense has improved since that loss.
Cleveland's ability to establish its ground game could be one of the biggest factors in determining whether Pittsburgh can extend its winning streak to four games.