One week after tying a nearly 80-year-old franchise record, the Pittsburgh Steelers have now set a franchise record for most consecutive games scoring seven points or less in the first 15 minutes of the game.
After failing to score in the first quarter Monday night, the Steelers have gone 64 consecutive game scoring seven points or less in the first quarter.
Last week’s performance against the Baltimore Ravens tied the same franchise drought that spanned 63 games from 1940-1947. That drought, according to Alex Kozora, excluded the two World War II merger years with the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Cardinals.
So, in a year in which the offense has been under significant fire with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, Pittsburgh has set a new franchise record for futility.
The current streak started during the 2022 season and has now spanned quarterbacks Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson and Rodgers. In that span, the offensive coordinators have been Matt Canada and now Arthur Smith, while Mike Tomlin has been the head coach during the stretch of futility.
The Brooklyn Dodgers hold the longest streak in NFL history with seven or fewer points in the first quarter, a drought that spanned 86 games from 1930-1937. The New York Giants actually held the modern-era record, which spanned 80 games from 2020-25 before they snapped their streak with 14 points in Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys.
Things looked a bit promising on the second Steelers drive of the game as Rodgers connected with win receiver DK Metcalf for a gain of 22 yards over the middle, while Jaylen Warren had a pair of 6-yard runs.
The Steelers also went for it on fourth down twice on the drive with tight end Connor Heyward converting on a tush push on 4th and 1, and Rodgers hitting running back Kenneth Gainwell for a gain of 9 yards on a 4th and 3.
But the drive stalled after Rodgers was sacked on third down by Dolphins standout linebacker Jordyn Brooks, locking the Steelers into futility in franchise history.