Steelers’ Run Defense Dominates in Detroit Behind Rookie Derrick Harmon’s Breakout Performance
The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t just beat the Detroit Lions on Sunday - they dismantled one of the NFL’s most dangerous rushing attacks. Holding the Lions to just 15 yards on the ground, the Steelers put together a defensive performance that was as dominant as any this season.
And at the center of it all? Rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon.
Detroit came into the game boasting the league’s fifth-best rushing offense. They left Heinz Field with their ground game in shambles. The Steelers’ front seven was relentless, and Harmon, the team’s first-round pick, led the charge.
Head coach Mike Tomlin didn’t hold back when discussing Harmon’s impact.
“I read some of the narrative about Derrick Harmon and his run game exploits, so I’m not going to do anything to diminish that,” Tomlin said. “Maybe he is just the monster that the narrative says he is.”
It’s hard to argue with the numbers. In the five games Harmon missed this season, Pittsburgh gave up an average of 165.6 rushing yards per game.
In the nine games he’s played? That number drops to 96 - and after Sunday’s performance, it’s down to 87.9.
That’s not just improvement - it’s transformation.
Harmon’s rookie campaign has been steadily building toward this kind of breakout. With 24 total tackles, two sacks, four quarterback hits, a fumble recovery, and a pass defended, he’s already making his presence felt. But against the Lions, he took it up a notch - and he did it in his hometown of Detroit, no less.
What made his performance even more impressive was the matchup. Harmon spent much of the game battling All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell, one of the best in the business. And yet, Harmon held his ground - and then some.
The praise didn’t stop with Tomlin. On the Heed The Call podcast, analyst Conor Orr summed it up best: “This was another huge Derrick Harmon game. He has been an ass-kicker for the Steelers’ run defense.”
Orr pointed to the Steelers’ recent success against top-tier running backs as evidence of Harmon’s growing influence. “They allowed 33 yards to Josh Jacobs, 45 yards to Jonathan Taylor, 60 yards to [De’Von] Achane.
They are just demolishing elite running backs in the NFL. A lot of that has to do with Harmon being healthy.”
And here’s the kicker - the Steelers were short-handed on defense. Both T.J.
Watt and Nick Herbig were inactive, leaving Pittsburgh without two of its top three outside linebackers. That could’ve spelled trouble.
Instead, it set the stage for others to step up.
Alex Highsmith, already a key piece of the Steelers’ edge rush, delivered two tackles for loss. Rookie Jack Sawyer, thrust into a bigger role, responded with five total tackles and looked more than ready for the moment.
This wasn’t just a good day for the Steelers’ defense - it was a statement. Even without some of their biggest names, Pittsburgh showed they can still shut down elite offenses, especially when Derrick Harmon is on the field.
If this is the version of the Steelers we’ll see down the stretch, the rest of the AFC better take notice. Harmon isn’t just anchoring the line - he’s changing the identity of this defense.