I would imagine you're familiar with the old adage – "there are three kinds of falsehoods: lies, damned lies and statistics." But there is one statistic that rings true. Turnover margin.
NFL teams that take the ball away more than they give it away are pretty much guaranteed to be successful. Take this year's Steelers who have taken it away more than any other team without giving it up all that much.
Their 17 takeaways - 11 interceptions, 6 fumbles - is tied for first with Tampa Bay but the Bucs have played one more game. Their 8 giveaways – 4 of each – is back in the pack but the plus-9 turnover margin is second to Tennessee's plus-10.
The Steelers, of course, have the NFL's best record at 9-0.
8-1 Kansas City is third in turnover margin with a plus-8. Eight teams are plus-4 or better and all of them have 3 losses or less.
All coaches stress the importance of winning the turnover battle but Mike Tomlin makes sure his players know it's a top priority.
"We start every Wednesday workday with ball handing and ball security drills for those that throw it, catch it, run it," Tomlin sais during his Tuesday Zoom call. "It's just a part of our culture."
"We drill it into the guys and I can't say enough the effort," continued Tomlin who singled out DB Cam Sutton for forcing a fumble in each of the last 3 games. "That builds and encourages others to do similar things."
Which they are. 10 Steelers have at least one takeaway, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Steven Nelson have three, Robert Spillane and Mike Hilton have two, Spillane and Fitzpatrick returned interceptions for touchdowns..
"It's something we'll continue to work at," Tomlin said. "It goes beyond conversation; it's about action."
