According to Next Gen Stats, Smith generated his highest pressure rate of the year against Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (18.2%), finishing the night with a sack and three additional pressures. Late in the second quarter, Smith brought Wilson down after defeating Steelers right tackle Broderick Jones on a bull rush, leading to Pittsburgh’s decision to settle for a field goal.

Smith also contributed to the run defense’s dominance against the Steelers rushing attack, spearheaded by Najee Harris, that managed just 56 yards. He particularly excelled at shedding his blocks. Earlier in the second quarter, Smith tossed aside the 6-7, 264-pound tight end Darnell Washington on a play that allowed C.J. Gardner-Johnson to swoop in to make a tackle on Harris for a loss of a yard.

By the end of the night, Smith had filled out just about every category on the stat sheet. In addition to his sack and three pressures, he finished the game with four tackles (No. 3 on the team), two tackles for losses (the team high), and one pass breakup.

Ever since Brandon Graham went down with a triceps tear in Week 12 against the Los Angeles Rams, Smith has shouldered a greater share of the defensive workload, going from 41% of the snaps in Weeks 1-12 to 81% in Weeks 13-15. His continued growth throughout the season, which has led to his role as an every-down edge rusher, has been evident to his defensive coordinator.

“He’s done a good job of improving each and every day,” Fangio said. “Maybe not each and every day, but each and every week. From the start of OTAs through training camp, he’s really taken it and put it on himself to improve and learn his position, learn the techniques of his position, learn the ins and outs of his position that can help him make a play or two. And as we know, he’s got good speed. He’s a good athlete. And he’s been able to amp up his physicalness to make up for his lack of size, ideal size for the position.”