Hey Steelers Fans. Welcome to Monday.
The Kickoff
Most of you who read this column already know my expectations weren’t high this year. I picked the Pittsburgh Steelers to finish 8-9. This was due to a young offensive line, a highly questionable defensive coordinator and I had serious doubts about Mike Tomlin. More serious than I had ever had previously. What I didn’t see happening was a complete and utter disaster. At 6-6, the Steelers can still right this ship with two games remaining against the Ravens, but my confidence level couldn’t be lower. The Steelers actually led the Bills 7-3 at halftime last night. After the first three minutes of the second half however, they found themselves trailing 16-7. And from there? It only got worse.
A Lack of Everything
This team plays with a lack of heart. There’s a lack of talent. There’s a lack of creativity. There’s a lack of accountability. There’s a lack of adjustment. There’s… A lack of a lot of things right now.
Watt Did He Say?
“I’ve never seen a team run the same play as much as they ran it tonight and have as much success as they had. I’m out of words for it.” – T.J. Watt
Did you ever think you’d read something like that from a Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive captain? Watt, who had very little impact on the game despite playing against a patchwork offensive line, was as frustrated as I’ve seen him on the sidelines late in the game. He’s a competitor and he knows this isn’t acceptable but I also wonder if he isn’t sensing his own mortality.
Speaking of That
What in the Hell was going on with Cam Heyward? An ongoing beef with Josh Allen eventually cost him an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for taunting. Keep in mind this occurred following a Bills’ touchdown. As I do with Watt, I wonder if Heyward isn’t seeing the end of the line. He’s about to join that really unfortunate group of Steelers’ greats who won’t ever win a Super Bowl in Pittsburgh. That’s gotta be a tough thing to take.
Rodgers
There is no question in my mind that Aaron Rodgers and Mike Tomlin both thought they would join forces to have a successful season. While there’s still time for that, it isn’t looking good. Rodgers looked as shaky and unsure of himself as I’ve ever seen him before. Even on his best throws, he double-clutched or had his feet going in the wrong direction. After the brutal loss, he then appeared to go after his receivers a bit. As we’ve said here at SCB all year long, this was bound to come from him.
Where’s Muth?
I’ve said numerous times that Pat Freiermuth is a ‘nice’ player. He largely catches the ball consistently but he doesn’t offer much in the way of YAC and is an average blocker. That said, how he is not a better option than Jonnu Smith right now? Smith couldn’t block a toddler from getting to a cookie and he’s clearly not the receiving threat he was last year. I’m no drum beater for Muth but he deserves better than this.
Numbers
The Steelers ran a total of 43 plays last night. Buffalo ran 74. The Steelers’ offense totaled just 166 yards offensively. The third worst total in Mike Tomlin’s tenure. The Bills outrushed the Steelers 249 to 58. The time of possession advantage was 41:59 to 18:01. I could keep going but I don’t want to puke.
Random Reads
College Football is great but it’s also 100% broken. Exhibit A is Lane Kiffin… I honestly believe that Arthur Smith doesn’t know how to scheme his receivers open… Speaking of receivers, the Steelers’ wideouts struggle to get open when Rodgers scrambles. By this point in the season you would have thought that would have improved… There’s no way that Smith or Teryl Austin come back in 2026 right? It would be insanity but then again… I miss the days when home-field advantage meant something in the NFL. It no longer does… Here’s my open letter to Art Rooney II published earlier today. I felt compelled… I will not be a bit surprised if the Steelers play better in Baltimore Sunday. Will it bring them a win? I’m honestly not sure yet… Corliss Waitman has really struggled the last two weeks… I thought Brandin Echols had a solid game last night… I’m pretty sure our boundary cornerbacks forgot how to contain runs… Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving!
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