The Pittsburgh Steelers seem to be a team finding themselves early in the 2025 season. With every game, they have shown areas of improvement, particularly on defense. According to edge rusher Nick Herbig, they are just getting started.
Herbig and the Steelers recorded six sacks and had numerous opportunities at interceptions against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The Steelers held their archrival to 3.3 yards per play and 3.2 yards per pass.
Furthermore, Cleveland came away without a touchdown on all three of its red zone possessions in Week 6. The Steelers held the Browns out of the end zone in the 23-9 victory.
But after the most impressive win of the young season for Pittsburgh, Herbig argued the Steelers defense can be even better.
“Everybody in the locker room knows what we’re capable of,” Herbig told reporters. “I still feel like we haven’t played up to our potential yet.
“We’re just scratching the surface. Once we’re firing on all cylinders, I’ll be excited for that.”
Herbig was a driving force for the Steelers big day on defense. The 23-year-old edge rusher had two sacks, four quarterback hits and one pass defense versus Cleveland in Week 6.
Nick Herbig Records Big Day vs. Browns
For the Steelers defense, the final statistics in Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings weren’t as impressive as Sunday’s versus Cleveland. The Vikings scored a couple times late against to make things interesting on September 28.
But the Steelers have still played well on defense in consecutive games. The unit has 12 sacks in the past two contests. Over the last three games, the Steelers also have seven takeaways.
Pittsburgh didn’t get any interceptions against rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel. But they dropped a couple passes that could have easily been picks. Herbig had one of those near-interceptions.
The edge rusher addressed how important it is for the entire team to string consecutive great performances together.
“When you stack back-to-back wins, in general, that’s great for the team. Not just us as a defense, but team as a whole,” Herbig said. “There’s obviously still a lot that we can learn from and work on. Looking forward to getting back in the building and getting to work on a short week.”
Herbig is more than stacking great performances. The 23-year-old has sacks in three consecutive contests. With 4.5 sacks, he leads the team in the category after five games.
Incredibly, Herbig still isn’t technically a starter on Pittsburgh’s defense. That speaks to the depth of the Steelers edge rushing room.
“We know what we’re capable of, the three of us,” Herbig added while addressing T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. “It’s just awesome to be out there with those two guys. They’re dawgs. Super, super professional guys. They take care of business on and off the field.
“Being able to share the field with them, even Cam [Heyward] too, that’s awesome. That’s something that I’ll look back on someday and be pretty blessed and grateful for.”
Watt and Highsmith each had 0.5 sacks in Week 6.
Herbig Receives Rare Honor Prior to Cleveland Matchup
Herbig isn’t a starter for the Steelers, but on Sunday, he was included in the team’s starting lineup prior to the game. The Steelers PA announcer at Acrisure Stadium named 12 players with the defensive starting lineup prior to Week 6.
Herbig was the “12th” player.
“I wasn’t expecting that at all … I just wear that with great pride and honor,” Herbig said. “Because I know all the great legendary players who have come through this building and walked the same halls as me.
“Just the fact they have that belief in me, that respect for me, to allow me to run out of the tunnel with all the guys. I’m truly blessed.”
The Steelers defense won’t have to wait long to prove whether they can continue scratching the surface to improve. The team will visit the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football in four days.
Herbig is embracing the challenge of two AFC North division games in the same week.
“Wouldn’t want it any other way,” he concluded.
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