The highest-paid defense in the NFL.
That’s the label the Pittsburgh Steelers’ star-studded defense carried into the start of the 2022 season after the long-term extension for star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Early on, they played like the highest-paid — and best — defense in the league, picking off Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow five times and sacking him seven times in a 23-20 overtime win.
However, after that game things fell apart a bit due to the injury to reigning Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt, who missed Weeks 2-8 before returning in Week 10 against the New Orleans Saints after the Week 9 bye.