Home Steelers 2021 Season Steelers’ Season in Peril After Humiliating Loss in Cincy

Steelers’ Season in Peril After Humiliating Loss in Cincy

by Steeldad
Heyward of the Steelers. steelcityblitz.com

I don’t know what you expected from the 2021 Pittsburgh Steelers but I’m pretty sure it never included what happened today in Cincinnati. For the second straight week the Steelers surrendered 41 points in a losing effort but this week there was no offensive rally as they fell to the Bengals 41-10. Making matters worse is that the team finds itself in dire straights in a division and a conference where seemingly every game is more under the microscope than usual.

At 5-5-1 the Steelers could find themselves in last place if Cleveland defeats Baltimore on Sunday Night Football but that should be the least of their concerns right now. This is a team that is struggling on both sides of the ball. So dominated were the Steelers on both lines of scrimmage that Mike Tomlin said afterwards “changes are coming.” I’m not sure what changes he is referring to because anything they think of now should have already been considered.

Cam Heyward played nose tackle for the first time this season when the Steelers were in the base defense. It made little difference as the Bengals and Joe Mixon ran at will on the beleaguered defense. Heyward is easily headed to another Pro Bowl after this season and may even get consideration as Defensive Player of the Year but he’s a man fighting an uphill battle on every play. Chris Wormley, Henry Mondeaux and Isaiahh Loudermilk just aren’t enough to slow down opposing rushing attacks right now and I don’t see it getting any better.

The other side of the line is struggling just as much. Rookies Dan Moore and Kendrick Green may have hit that so-called “rookie wall” because both are struggling. B.J. Finney got the start with both Kevin Dotson and JC Hassenauer out with injuries. Finney was once a catalyst for big running days in the past but he was no match for the Bengals’ front four today. As has been the case all year, there is no push and there is no one getting to the second level.

No one could have predicted the injury issues the Steelers would have and no one could have predicted that Devin Bush would regress to the point where he is now a liability. With Robert Spillane leaving today’s game with knee injury it could leave the Steelers dangerously thin. While all teams at this point in the season are banged up, the Steelers lack of depth is most definitely its Achilles Heel.

So where does this leave the 2021 Steelers? They return home with a Sunday afternoon date with the Baltimore Ravens which will be another war. Then they still have Minnesota, Tennessee, Kansas City, Cleveland and another game with the Ravens to finish out. All of these teams are above .500 and will give the Steelers no quarter. A loss next Sunday is not the official end but it’s damn close.

There was once a time when Mike Tomlin teams dominated the month of December. That is exactly what they’ll need to do but after today, I don’t see it happening.

Feature image courtesy cincinnati.com

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