Throughout much of the 2021 season, opponents of the Pittsburgh Steelers found themselves getting showered with yellow laundry more often than not, or so it felt like.
Turns out, that feeling was spot on.
According to Football Outsiders in its latest Football Outsiders Almanac for the 2022 season, the Steelers benefitted from a league-leading 154 penalty flags against opponents during the 17-game season in 2021. That’s certainly not going to help fans defend the narrative that the “Steelers get all the calls” that is heard throughout games and seasons.
Those 154 penalty flags includes an astounding 17 defensive pass interference penalties draw by the Steelers, second in the league behind Indianapolis, according to Football Outsiders’ Aaron Schatz.