SPORTS UPDATE
While it didn’t include many good plays by the Steelersthe second half of Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Billsdid include some jeers from Pittsburgh’s frustrated fan base.
After leading 7-3 at halftime, the Steelers were utterly dominated in the second half, being outscored 23-0 en route to a 26-7 beatdown. During that sequence, fans not only booed during the playing of “Renegade,” they chanted “Fire Tomlin!” loud enough for Mike Tomlin to be asked about it afterward.
“I share their frustration tonight,” Tomlin said. “We didn’t do enough. That’s just the reality of it.”
While he’s been incredibly successful in Pittsburgh, Tomlin’s recent track record is anything but.
Since starting 10-3 last season, the Steelers are just 6-11 in their last 17 games. The Steelers lost their final five games of the 2024 season that included their sixth straight loss in the playoffs.
Pittsburgh got off to a 4-1 start this season, but has since lost five of its last seven games. The Steelers had a chance to distance themselves from the AFC North field before Halloween. But instead of doing that, they find themselves trailing the 6-6 Ravens(via tiebreaker) in the division standings three days after Thanksgiving.
Sunday was apparently the tipping point for many Steelers fans. It was one of the worst losses of the Tomlin era and could possibly be his worst regular-season loss at home.
The Steelers were outmatched on both sides of the ball after taking a 7-0 lead midway through the second quarter. From that point on, they were outscored 26-0, out-gained 256-96, committed two turnovers, had a turnover on downs and allowed Buffalo’s offense and defense to score touchdowns. Pittsburgh couldn’t do anything on offense, and on defense, its 249 rushing yards allowed were the most at home by the Steelers since they started playing at Acrisure Stadium.
“I’ve never seen a team run the same play as much as they ran it tonight and had as much success as they had,” an exasperated T.J. Watt said afterward. “I’m out of words for it.”
While they can regain first place in the AFC North with a win next weak in Baltimore, many Steelers fans have already resigned themselves to the fact that there’s a very good chance that the current team won’t be able to put an end to the franchise’s drought without a playoff win, which currently stands at eight years. If that happens, it would be the 15th time in Tomlin’s 19 years that the Steelers were unable to win a playoff game.
Poor quarterback decisions is one of the main reasons for the Steelers’ current playoff drought. Pittsburgh’s inability to find Ben Roethlisberger‘s successor has largely contributed to some talented teams not getting as far as they could ultimately go. It’s a big reason why Watt, Cam Heyward and Minkah Fitzpatrick never won a playoff game as teammates.
The Steelers’ busy offseason hasn’t led to better on-field results. Pittsburgh took a big swing when they traded Fitzpatrick to Miami for Jalen Ramsey and John Smith. And while the trade initially looked like a win for Pittsburgh, it certainly isn’t looking that way now. Ramsey has had to learn Fitzpatrick’s old position on the fly, while Smith has struggled to game on the same page with Aaron Rodgers.
Speaking of Rodgers, his inability to have more success in the passing game (especially over the middle and down the field) is largely a byproduct of the Steelers never finding George Pickens‘ replacement despite having several opportunities to do so. That’s also a reason why DK Metcalf continues to underproduce as he is constantly being shadowed by multiple defenders.
Tomlin is considered a future Hall of Famer, and for good reason. He’s never had a losing season as a head coach, has won a Super Bowlgone to another and has presided over seven division championships. And while his teams have at times underachieved, he has done some of his best work with teams that many had left for dead at about this point in the season.
Given his stature in the game, his desire to continuing coaching, and the fact that he still has over two years remaining on his current contract, the odds of the Steelers and Tomlin parting ways after this season are slim to none. But while that may be true, it’s clear that Pittsburgh fans are running out of patience.
It’s also clear that Tomlin continues to have the support of his players, most especially his future Hall of Fame quarterback .
“I believe in the coaching staff,” Rodgers said after the game. “I believe in Mike Tomlin. That’s why I came here. Players need to take accountability. Myself included, and I will, and I will continue to. I need to play better. … We’ve gotta have our best Monday through Saturday that we can be proud of, then go out and play our best game and take control of the division.”
