Category Archives: Steelers 2024 Season

Steelers 2024 Season Review: Hard Knocks Meets Game of Thrones

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The Pittsburgh Steelers ended the 2024 regular season at 10-7 and the were One and Done in the playoffs after the Baltimore Ravens ridiculed them.

In hindsight, it’s fitting that HBO featured the Steelers on Hard Knocks in 2024. That’s because their season followed the arc of another famed HBO blockbuster, Game of Thrones:

  • The Steelers excited by exceeding expectations early on, only to stumble before imploding in a deeply disappointing finish.

Like Game of Thrones, the Steelers were undone by continuity errors and fatal plot holes. Unlike Game of Thrones, while these flaws did define their season, but do not necessarily define their destiny.

Let’s take a deep dive.

Derrick Henry, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Steelers vs Ravens, Steelers 2024 season

Derrick Henry stiff arms Minkah Fitzpatrick. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Backstory: Steelers Reach Beyond Their Comfort Zone

Chuck Noll once explained, “When you lose, everything they say about you is true.” And there’s a lot of truth circulating about the Steelers brain trust now. While it may not be popular with critics, here’s one basic truth: The Steelers did not start 2024 by doing the same things and expecting different results.

They hired Arthur Smith, who became the team’s first outside coordinator hire since Todd Haley in 2012.

They turned their quarterback room over end-to-end. In the blink of an eye, Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph vanished.

Third, they traded Diontae Johnson, their best route runner and most-tenured receiver.

Omar Khan remained aggressive in free agency, poaching Patrick Queen from the Ravens, while signing DeShon Elliott to bolster their secondary. In the 2024 NFL Draft Omar Khan and Andy Wedil leaned into their “build through the trenches” philosophy.

  • Were those changes effective?

They certainly didn’t deliver dividends in December and January. But for whatever else went wrong in 2024, no one should accuse Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin of hiding in their comfort zone.

Opening Gambit: From Field of Dreams to Russ Cooks

Mike Tomlin brought Russell Wilson to Pittsburgh to start. Injuries threw a monkey wrench into his plans, and Justin Fields started the first six games of the season.

During that stretch, we both saw why the Chicago Bears made Justin Fields the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and why they moved on after 3 years. Fields made some spectacular throws. He added an unpredictable dynamic to the offense with his legs. He also had trouble handling snaps and missed routine passes.

  • Still, that was good enough for the Steelers to go 4-2.

Mike Tomlin nonetheless made a change and the Russell Wilson era started with the win over the Jets. He followed with a win over the Giants.

Calvin Austin, Steelers vs Giants,

Calvin Austin hauls in a touchdown. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Then he led the Steelers to wins over the Washington Commanders on the road and the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium.

But Pittsburgh bounced back with a road win over the Bengals and  a home win over the Browns that saw Pittsburgh put up 27 points — without George Pickens.

It was good times.

Russ was cooking. The long ball returned to the Steelers offense after a painful absence. The defense, when it wasn’t dominating, was making in-game adjustments and securing turnovers at critical points in game after game.

T.J. Watt, Joe Burrow, T.J. Watt strip sack Joe Burrow, Steelers vs Bengals

T.J. Watt strip sacks Joe Burrow. Photo Credit: X.com

By the time Steelers Nation was finishing the last of their Thanksgiving leftovers, the Steelers were 10-3, had just won two straight division games and led the AFC North with a 3-1 division record. Mike Tomlin was the consensus candidate for coach of the year.

  • Not bad for a team that every expert had pegged to finish last in the AFC North.

But “NFL” means Not For Long. One continuity error that had been popping up was about to take its toll. And an unforeshadowed, fatal plot hole was waiting to sink the Steelers season.

Continuity Error: A Run Focused Offense Lacking a Running Attack

Despite going one-and-done in the playoffs to the Bills, the Steelers ended 2023 on a hopeful note. One reason is that the running game had improved during the latter half of 2023. No, the offensive line wasn’t road grading for Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, but they were effective and getting better.

And as Mason Rudolph showed, when you combine that running game with competent quarterback play, the Steelers could play winning offensive football.

  • The Steelers quarterbacking improved in 2024.
  • Unfortunately its running game regressed.

You can marshal limitless facts, figures, statistics and sabermetrics to document the inadequacy of the 2024 Steelers rushing attack. Four simple plays illustrate this reality much better

  • On opening day, the Steelers went for it on 4th & 1 at Atlanta’s six and failed.
  • In the 1st quarter against the Browns on TNF, on 4th & 2 at their own 38 Pittsburgh went for it and lost 2 yards
  • In the 3rd quarter against the Browns on their own 46, the Steelers tried again on 4th & 1 and failed
  • In the regular season finale, with 0:49 left in the 1st half, on their own 37 the Bengals snuffed them on 4th and 1

The consequences of these “continuity errors” cascaded as the season progressed.

In Atlanta and Cleveland, the defense bailed them out on the ensuing drives. The Steelers beat the Falcons, but lost to the Browns – perhaps 2 failed 4th down conversions in a game 2 too many. In the finale, the Bengals kicked a field goal with the extra time in what ended as a 2-point game.

Arthur Smith was brought to Pittsburgh to reestablish a physical style of football. While he was in Tennessee, Steelers fans longingly hailed him for “Running a Bill Cowher-style offense.”

Russell Wilson, Najee Harris, Steelers vs Giants

Russell Wilson hands off to Najee Harris. Photo Credit: Steelers.com

At times, the Steelers ground game was OK. But never did it even feign dominance. The fact that the Steelers deployed Justin Fields to close their two biggest AFC North wins reinforces that reality.

“If you can’t get a yard, you don’t deserve to win,” Mike Tomlin is wont to say. We know from Hard Kocks he made a deliberate decision to lean on his running game late in the season. But the running game faltered.

Was it Smith’s system? (Explain the pitch play. Please.) Should he have platooned Harris and Warren differently? Was the offensive line simply ineffective?

All three factors played a role. But given that the pass protection broke down late in the year, the offensive line’s poor play is probably the root cause.

Going back to the Game of Thrones analogy, one of the first signs that the show was headed for the rocks was when the show runners suddenly had characters “teleporting” across vast distances and time periods.

  • It was lazy production.
  • A smidge of script creativity could have resolved everything.
  • These were unforced errors.

We can probably view the Steelers offensive line problems in a similar light. The line is young. It was oft injured. It has “upside.” The answers to the Steelers offensive line issues very well may be on the roster.

Closing the plot hole may not be so easy.

Plot Hole: Defense Comes up Choto When it Counts

The Steelers plan for the post Ben Roethlisberger era was simple: Have the defense carry the team until a new franchise QB could be found.

The franchise’s philosophy has been clear: By investing in players such as T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alex Highsmith and Patrick Queen the Steelers would empower them to go toe-to-toe with elite quarterbacks.

  • 2024 provided a rude awakening to the fact that this philosophy might be fatally flawed.

Strictly speaking this fatal flaw appeared in the December losses to the Eagles and Ravens. But the defense was playing down several starters in both games and, absent a sprinkling of critical errors, Pittsburgh had a puncher’s chance to win both games.

Travis Kelce, Donte Jackson, Steelers vs Chiefs, Steelers Chiefs Christmas 2024

Travis Kelce scorches the Steelers. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

There were no such mitigating circumstances against the Chiefs at Christmas and the Ravens in the playoffs.

Patrick Mahomes devoured the Steelers pass defense, exploiting holes with laser-like precision. The Baltimore Ravens imposed their will on the Steelers. Kirk Herbstreit assailed the Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin’s defense for lack of effort.

I think he was wrong, but it some ways wish he were right because the Steelers defense got its ass kicked by a superior, more physical offense.

It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but in 2024’s the two-most critical contests against elite offenses, the Steelers defense came up Choto (yes there’s that word again,) both times.

Rooney, Tomlin and Khan and Road from Here

Game of Thrones first several seasons were so successful because show runners Benioff and Weiss did a better job of telling George R.R. Martin’s story on screen than he’d done on paper.

  • They hit the narrative equivalent of an iceberg when they ran out of Martin’s original material.

Art Rooney II, having already decided to retain Mike Tomlin, needs to determine with Tomlin and Omar Khan whether the franchise’s defense-first script has run its course.

And that determination will define how soon the Steelers go all in on finding their next young quarterback.

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Cheat Sheet! A Championship Sunday Rooting Guide for Steelers fans

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Championship Sunday has arrived and, as has been the case since 2016, our beloved Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t playing.

So who, if anyone should Steelers fans root for? Good question. Today we take a look at the teams and develop a little cheat sheet.

Patrick Queen, Jalen Hurts, Steelers vs Eagles

Patrick Queen tries in vain to close in on Jalen Hurts. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

The Washington Commanders

This is a sentimental favorite of many. This is a franchise that’s been in NFL no man’s land since Daniel Snyder took control. Sure, his early attempts to buy a Lombardi generated a lot of sound and fury. But it soon became clear that Snyder was dead set on running the once-proud franchise like a Fantasy Football team. That wasn’t the worst part. Snyder was a horrible person. Stories of him suing season ticket holder who’d hit hard times were only the tip of the iceberg.

In steps former Steelers minority owner Josh Harris, Dan Quinn and Jayden Daniels arrive and viola: Washington is in the NFC Championship.

Yes, a lot of Commanders fans are living what a lot of Generation X Steelers fans would have lived had Mark Stock caught the ball and/or Chuck Lanza hadn’t bobbled the snap to Bubby Brister in the AFC Divisional Playoff loss to Denver that ended the 1989 Steelers Cinderella run.

  • Yes, the Commanders are a temping target for our rooting interests

But Steelers fans should resist that temptation. If you don’t agree that the two franchises are “should be rivals,” I’ll concede this is may just be one of the authors quirks.

Cam Heyward, Cameron Heyward, Jaden Daniels, Steelers vs Commanders

Cam Heyward sacks Jaden Daniels. Photo Credit: AP, Chaz Palla, via Tribune-Review

So here’s another reason: Jaden Daniels is a stud. He’s going to add to Washington’s Lombardi count during his career – that’s almost a scientific certainty.

Washington already has 3 Lombardis – why give them a shot at making a head start at trying the Steelers total?

The Kansas City Chiefs

Is there any reason to root for this team? When the Chiefs played the Buccaneers for the title a social media meme circulated with Patrick Mahomes photo below Grogu’s with Tom Brady’s below Yoda’s.

Justin Reid, Steelers vs Chiefs, Steelers Chiefs Christmas

Justin Reid intercepts Russell Wilson. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

  • The implication is clear, and has been validated since then: Mahomes is the new Brady

He is. The Chiefs have been in the conference championship every season since 2018. They’ve been to four Super Bowls, winning three. They’re going for a threepeat. Fair enough. But Mahomes is also getting Brady-like pampering from the officials.

And he’s added 3 Lombardi’s to the Chiefs existing count. He’s going to get more at some point. No sense in letting him stack them now.

The Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills are another sentimental favorite, with a long-suffering fan base enjoying a renaissance. And, if you dig a little deeper, the people of Buffalo share a lot more in common with the people of Western Pennsylvania.

It is a Frostbelt City that got hit hard in the 70’s and 80’s. Arguably Pittsburgh has found its way a little better since then, but they’re kindred spirits.

In football terms, they’ve done well in the regular season, only to get pushed around by the Chiefs, and to a lesser extent, the Ravens in the playoffs.

In other words, they seem like the perfect kind of team to root for to knock off the Chiefs.

The Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles are in a lot of ways the type of team the Steelers aspire to be. Rolling your eyes a little bit?

  • OK. I get it. There isn’t a lot of Keystone State fidelity between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

But how many of you are able to watch Saquon Barkley highlights and not say to yourself, “Man, THAT’S the kind of rushing attack that the Steeles should have (again.)” I rest my case.

And really, by bringing in both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, the Steelers were trying to see if they could make it work with a Jalen Hurts like quarterback. So by all means, let’s support our brethren at the other end of the Turnpike today. (Disclaimer: If Kenny Pickett comes into this game, by all means start rooting for Washington.)

Pecking Order for Championship Sunday

So in my view here is the pecking order Steelers fans should follow for Championship Sunday and the ensuing Super Bowl.

4. Washington Commanders
3. Kansas City Chiefs
2. Buffalo Bills
1. Philadelphia Eagles

Not everyone will agree on this. That’s fine. Likewise, if fans want to quibble and revert the order of the Commanders and Chiefs, not only wouldn’t argue, I’d probably do the same if both end up in the Super Bowl.

Time may also prove some of the my underlying assumptions wrong. So be it. IF I am wrong about this it won’t be either the first or last time that’s true.

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Steelers Report Card for 2024 Season – Tired of Grading Edition

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Taken from the grade book of a teacher who is tired of grading, here is the Pittsburgh Steelers Report Card for the 2024 season.

Russell Wilson, Steelers vs Chiefs, Chiefs sack Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson is sacked. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Quarterbacks
Justin Fields started in led the Steelers to a 4-2 record. He legs proved to be as much if not more of a weapon than his arm. Which is OK, he largely did what the Steelers asked him to do. Russell Wilson took over a 4-2 team and was cooking by the time the team reached 10-3 before the meat girder portion of their schedule. There Russ faltered a bit, but mainly because he tried to do too much. If there’s one player who “left it all on the field” in the playoff debacle against Baltimore, it was Wilson. The Steelers had winning quarterback play in 2024. Grade: BSteelers, Report Card, grades,

Running Backs
Najee Harris logged his 4th consecutive 1000 yard season, earn his best rushing average. Jaylen Warren had 511 yards and an even better average. Don’t look now, but Cordarrelle Patterson actually had a better average than both of them. And yet, for all of those numbers, the whole of the Steelers rushing game was still less than the sum of its parts. Too often “Sludge Ball” on 1st and 2nd down resulted in 3rd and 8s. The running backs did a respectable job in catching passes, but were never true weapons. The running rarely establish a rhythm. That’s not all on the backs, but the Steelers needed more. Grade: C-

Tight Ends
Pat Freiermuth was easily the offense’s most reliable player, catching 65 passes for 653 yards and 7 touchdowns. Darnell Washington caught 19 passes for 200 yards, but never emerged as a consistent threat. MyCole Pruitt didn’t add much and Connor Heyward seemed to be the odd man out. Pat Freiermuth lifts the group grade, but the Steelers needed more from the tight ends in 2024. Grade: B-

Wide Receivers
George Pickens displayed his incredible athletic talent on the field on several occasions, but his immaturity with pointless penalties cost the team on many others. And his production dropped year-by-year. Calvin Austin had a nice second season and flashed playmaking potential at times, but he wasn’t able to do so consistently. Van Jefferson showed he might have it to be an NFL WR No. 4 or maybe even a No. 3. But he’s no No. 2. Mike Williams flashed at times, but wasn’t able to pick up the slack when Pickens was out. Ben Skowronek only saw spot duty, but he did quite well there. Scotty Miller was a non-factor. The Steelers clearly didn’t have the wide outs needed for a playoff run, let alone a championship run. Grade: D

Offensive Line
Injuries scrambled the line’s continuity early in the year, and it showed. By mid-season the line appeared to be making progress – then things fell apart as the weather got cold, rookie walls got hit, and from there on out “Sludge Ball” and sacks characterized the line play. Given the investment of free agent dollars an draft picks, this was a failing performance. Grade: F

Defensive Line
Cam Heyward bounced back after an injury plagued 2023. He was not only the best player on the line, if there is any football justice in the world, Heyward should have punched his card to Canton. His 8 sacks, 11 passes defensed an 12 tackles for losses don’t do justice to the ass kicker he was. Keeanu Benton had his moments, but really didn’t make second year leap, and Larry Ogunjobi likely set himelf up to be a cap casualty. Grade: B-

T.J. Watt, Joe Burrow, T.J. Watt strip sack Joe Burrow, Steelers vs Bengals

T.J. Watt strip sacks Joe Burrow. Photo Credit: X.com

Linebackers
T.J. Watt was voted team MVP, and he did some through with several splash plays that swung or sealed games. Yet, he was hot and cold and not effective late in the year. Alex Highsmith had a strong year over coming injury, and Nick Herbig made things happen. Rookie Peyton Wilson shown at times, but also appears to have it the “rookie wall.” Patrick Queen led the unit in tackles, while Elandon Roberts proved himself to be a “tooth chipper.” Grade: B

Secondary
Joey Porter Jr. had some sophomore struggles and must learn to avoid costly penalties. Donte Jackson had 5 interceptions, although if Pro Football Focus ratings are to be believed – and perhaps they are not, he struggled in coverage. Minkah Fitzpatrick led the team in tackles, but the big play “Minkah Magic” was missing. Beanie Bishop looks to be like a nice find as an undrafted rookie free agent. The secondary had a solid year in at lot of ways, but it faltered against elite QB’s down the stretch. Grade: C-

Special Teams
Chris Boswell had a otherworldly season, accounting for all of the team’s scoring in two games. Corliss Waitman started the year strong in relief of injured Cameron Johnston, but his performance leveled off as the trees grew bare. The Steelers punt coverage was strong, kick return coverage could have been better. The Steelers got little out of their kick return game, but Calvin Austin did a fair job as a returner. And the Steelers had several blocks early in the season. Grade: B

Coaching
Where to start?

Arthur Smith had his hands full – his offensive line was injured early and often, he never got a legit WR No. 2, and his starting quarterback was out for the first six weeks. Yet he found ways to make things work for the bulk of the season’s first 13 weeks.

But his offensive line began to falter at the same moment that he lost his starting wide receiver, and the unit struggled through December football.

Teryl Austin’s followed a similar arc. It might not have dominated during the season’s first 13 weeks, but the only truly worrisome performance came in the loss to Dallas, and he rectified that in short order. The defense was able to produce turnovers, and succeeded in making Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry look human when they came to Acrisure.

But the brutal reality is that his defense went into 5-star matchups on Christmas against the Chiefs and in the playoffs against Baltimore at full health and came up Choto on both occasions. (Choto is Argentine slang for coming up short – it carries both practical and anatomical implications.)

Arthur Smith, Mike Tomlin, Steelers vs Browns, Steelers vs Browns snow

Arthur Smith confers with Mike Tomlin. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

And finally, that brings us to Mike Tomlin.

Dispassionate analysts who focus on calling things as they see them as opposed to catering to angry fans to generate clicks, have argued that a sober analysis of this roster shows it to be an 8 or 9 win team. In that light, Tomlin should be credited for bringing out the best in what is a middle-of-the-road roster.

That may be true.

But here is something else that is true: In 2023 the Steelers finished 10-7 with weaker quarterback play, and were within a touchdown of trying the Buffalo Bills with 10:32 remaining in the 4th quarter in the playoffs. In 2024 they finished 10-7 and then Baltimore Ravens ridiculed them in the playoffs.

The objective of the Pittsburgh Steelers football club is to win a Super Bowl, and the franchise regressed in 2024. And that is on Mike Tomlin. Grade: F

Front Office
It is tempting to point a finger at the front offense for the failure of the line to step up, but the unit is young.

And clearly, Omar Khan executed addition by subtraction by dealing Diontae Johnson for Donte Jackson. Nonetheless, no “Khan Artist” plan to land a true number 2 wideout ever materialized. And that clearly hurt the offense, if for no other reason than it allowed defenses to crowd the box.

Deshon Elliott, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Steelers vs Colts

DeShon Elliot. Photo Credit: Steelers.com

The defense did not deliver on bang for its salary cap buck, but the only major contract given on that side of the ball this off season was to Patrick Queen, who played pretty well. Grade: C

Unsung Hero Award
Fans have always salivated over free agent signings, in large part because the Steelers seldom make big ticket moves. The ones that the franchise has historically excelled at are the under the radar ones. And this year the Steelers made one in the secondary, and his number seemed to show up on the field where ever it was needed and for that DeShon Elloitt wins the Unsung Hero Award for the Steelers 2024 season.

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Ravens Ridicule Steelers 28-14 in AFC Wild Card, Extend Pittsburgh’s Playoff Losing Streak

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The Pittsburgh Steelers playoff losing streak continues the Baltimore Ravens ridiculed them 28-14 at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday night, as Mike Tomlin drops to 0-6 in the postseason since Chris Boswell booted them to their last playoff victory on a cold night in Kansas City, so long ago.

The pitch forks are out in Steelers Nation, understandably so given that the difference in the game was far more dramatic than the score suggests.

One need not dig deep to understand this latest playoff loss: The Baltimore Ravens won because they are a far more talented team who is peaking at just the right time.

Derrick Henry, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Elandon Roberts, Steelers vs Ravens

Derrick Henry leaves Steelers defense in the dust. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Steelers Had to Be Perfect. They Were Anything But

In the run up to the game, Steel City Insider’s Jim Wexell cited the 2005 Steelers and their playoff upset of the Indianapolis Colts. That ’05 team snuck into the playoffs, knocked off a Bengals team, and then went to Indy as 10 point under dogs.

  • Wexell thought the same thing could happen in Baltimore.
  • A lot of other non-homers seemed to believe.

Personally, I thought the metaphor to be a stretch – that ’05 offense had 4 Hall of Famers on it (yes, I AM counting Hines Ward.) That’s at least 3 if not 4 more than this offense has. But, that being said, the ’05 did leave a template for upsetting a team with superior talent:

Be perfect.

  • Three plays illustrate just how unperfect the Steelers offense was against the Ravens.

Russell Wilson took the very first snap and immediately fired off in Pat Freiermuth’s direction.  Freiermuth was open, right at the first down marker. The ball hit him in the hands. Hitting the man who has been the team’s most reliable receiving threat right off the bat made sense. It would have started the offense off on the right foot.

Imperfect Moment 1: Instead, Pat Freiermuth dropped the ball.

The Steelers punted 5 plays later, and the Ravens responded with a 13 play seven minute plus drive that put them up 7 nothing. After that, the teams traded punts.

After forcing a rare Ravens put, the Steelers started off smartly, getting 8 yards on two Najee Harris’ carries. Afterall, this offense is built around using the run game to set up “manageable third downs.”

Wilson again looked to Freiermuth again.

Imperfect Moment 2: He caught the ball but only got 1 of 2 yards the Steelers needed needed.

The Ravens responded with another 13-minute, nearly 8 minute drive that put them up 14-0, with just 4:02 left the first half. And that’s when the Steelers seriously teased everyone, if only for a second.

After earning a first down, the Steelers faced a 3rd and 8. Mike Tomlin sent out Justin Fields. The Ravens were caught flat-footed and burned a timeout. Russell Wilson came back out and hit George Pickens for an apparently 49 yard moonball.

The field had been flipped, Pittsburgh was in perfect position to halve the score before the half.

Imperfect Moment 3: But Pickens pushed off, got flagged for offensive pass interference.

So it was on third and 18, Wilson managed to find Pat Freiermuth, who only managed to gain 9 yards. As you remember from school, 50% = a failing grade. And then some.

If the Steelers were to have any chance of upsetting the Ravens, they needed to be perfect. Instead they were the opposite.

Rob Mr. Henry to Pay Mr. Jackson? NOT!

Going into the game Lamar Jackson had already rushed for more yards than any other NFL quarterback. Yet previous few of those came at the expense of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The only game where he broke double-digits in rushing attempts was the 2019 game, when Mason Rudolph and Delvin Hodges almost gave him a run for his money.

  • Perhaps that lulled Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin into a fall sense of security.

Because the Steelers defensive plan was to focus on stopping Derrick Henry, even if that meant allowing Jackson some daylight to run with the ball. And T.J. Watt would have been credited with maybe a half dozen tackles of Henry for losses following fake handoffs.

  • That opened the door for Lamar Jackson to scramble 81 yards on 15 carries.

Credit the Ravens for executing false handoffs to perfection – they fooled both the Steelers and the Amazon Prime camera crews time and time again. With Jackson and Henry the Ravens had a one-two claw attack that the Steelers could never counter – the plan to give up a little to Jackson to shut down Henry failed miserably.

If you’re going to willingly let Jackson make some scrabbles, you have to deliver on stopping Henry.

In case you’re taking notes at home, Derrick Henry ran for 186 yards.

Real 2nd Half Rally? Or Garbage Time Glory

When the Steelers went into the locker room down 21 nothing at the half, losing a point differential of at least 35 points appeared to be in the offing.

Van Jefferson, Steelers vs Ravens

Van Jefferson catches a 30 yard touchdown. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

  • Yet, the Steelers “only” lost by 2 touchdowns.

Did the Steelers make a game of it? Or is that just garbage time glory? It says here that they made a go of it, kinda sorta at least.

The Steelers forced a punt after the opening kickoff in the second half. That punt left the Steelers on their own two. A run to Jaylen Warren yielded 1 yard followed by an incomplete pass.

  • Here Russell Wilson dug deep and hit Calvin Austin for a 29-yard completion.
  • Later he hit Mike Williams on a 37-yard moonball.
  • 2 plays later, on 3rd and 10 he hit Van Jefferson for a 30-yard touchdown.

3 plays later, Derrick Henry gouged the center of the Steelers defense for 44 yards, restoring Baltimore’s 21 point advantage.

But the Steelers weren’t done. Russell Wilson put together another workman like drive, and hit George Pickens for a 30-yard touchdown.

  • The Steelers defense then did what it was supposed to do – it forced a Ravens 3 and out.

With just over full quarter left to play, the Steelers had a real shot at contesting this outcome – if they could only score a touchdown on this drive. The Steelers moved the chains once but, on third and 8, as it has so many times during this losing streak, the receivers couldn’t get open, the line couldn’t protect Wilson long enough, and he got sacked.

The Steelers defense actually forced another punt, but the offense turned over on downs.

Bitter Defeat Reinforces Brutal Reality

The loss to the Ravens didn’t reveal anything new about the Pittsburgh Steelers that we hadn’t seen in the last month and frankly probably should have known since the summer – this is a team with a 9 or 10 win ceiling.

But the loss did reinforce the reality that a sharp delta continues to separate the Steelers from the NFL’s true championship contenders.

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Ravens Beat Steelers 28-14 in AFC Wild Card at M&T Bank Stadium

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The Pittsburgh Steelers playoff losing streak continues the Baltimore Ravens ridiculed them 28-14 at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday night, as Mike Tomin drops to 0-6 in the postseason since Chris Boswell booted them to their last playoff victory on a cold night in Kansas City, so long ago.

The pitch forks are out in Steelers Nation, understandably so given that the difference in the game was far more dramatic than the score suggests.

One need not dig deep to understand this latest playoff loss: The Baltimore Ravens won because they are a far more talented team who is peaking at just the right time.

Derrick Henry, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Elandon Roberts, Steelers vs Ravens

Derrick Henry leaves Steelers defense in the dust. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Steelers Had to Be Perfect. They Were Anything But

In the run up to the game, Steel City Insider’s Jim Wexell cited the 2005 Steelers and their playoff upset of the Indianapolis Colts. That ’05 team snuck into the playoffs, knocked off a Bengals team, and then went to Indy as 10 point under dogs.

  • Wexell thought the same thing could happen in Baltimore.
  • A lot of other non-homers seemed to believe.

Personally, I thought the metaphor to be a stretch – that ’05 offense had 4 Hall of Famers on it (yes, I AM counting Hines Ward.) That’s at least 3 if not 4 more than this offense has. But, that being said, the ’05 did leave a template for upsetting a team with superior talent:

Be perfect.

  • Three plays illustrate just how unperfect the Steelers offense was against the Ravens.

Russell Wilson took the very first snap and immediately fired off in Pat Freiermuth’s direction.  Freiermuth was open, right at the first down marker. The ball hit him in the hands. Hitting the man who has been the team’s most reliable receiving threat right off the bat made sense. It would have started the offense off on the right foot.

Imperfect Moment 1: Instead, Pat Freiermuth dropped the ball.

The Steelers punted 5 plays later, and the Ravens responded with a 13 play seven minute plus drive that put them up 7 nothing. After that, the teams traded punts.

After forcing a rare Ravens put, the Steelers started off smartly, getting 8 yards on two Najee Harris’ carries. Afterall, this offense is built around using the run game to set up “manageable third downs.”

Wilson again looked to Freiermuth again.

Imperfect Moment 2: He caught the ball but only got 1 of 2 yards the Steelers needed needed.

The Ravens responded with another 13-minute, nearly 8 minute drive that put them up 14-0, with just 4:02 left the first half. And that’s when the Steelers seriously teased everyone, if only for a second.

After earning a first down, the Steelers faced a 3rd and 8. Mike Tomlin sent out Justin Fields. The Ravens were caught flat-footed and burned a timeout. Russell Wilson came back out and hit George Pickens for an apparently 49 yard moonball.

The field had been flipped, Pittsburgh was in perfect position to halve the score before the half.

Imperfect Moment 3: But Pickens pushed off, got flagged for offensive pass interference.

So it was on third and 18, Wilson managed to find Pat Freiermuth, who only managed to gain 9 yards. As you remember from school, 50% = a failing grade. And then some.

If the Steelers were to have any chance of upsetting the Ravens, they needed to be perfect. Instead they were the opposite.

Rob Mr. Henry to Pay Mr. Jackson? NOT!

Going into the game Lamar Jackson had already rushed for more yards than any other NFL quarterback. Yet previous few of those came at the expense of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The only game where he broke double-digits in rushing attempts was the 2019 game, when Mason Rudolph and Delvin Hodges almost gave him a run for his money.

  • Perhaps that lulled Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin into a fall sense of security.

Because the Steelers defensive plan was to focus on stopping Derrick Henry, even if that meant allowing Jackson some daylight to run with the ball. And T.J. Watt would have been credited with maybe a half dozen tackles of Henry for losses following fake handoffs.

  • That opened the door for Lamar Jackson to scramble 81 yards on 15 carries.

Credit the Ravens for executing false handoffs to perfection – they fooled both the Steelers and the Amazon Prime camera crews time and time again. With Jackson and Henry the Ravens had a one-two claw attack that the Steelers could never counter – the plan to give up a little to Jackson to shut down Henry failed miserably.

If you’re going to willingly let Jackson make some scrabbles, you have to deliver on stopping Henry.

In case you’re taking notes at home, Derrick Henry ran for 186 yards.

Real 2nd Half Rally? Or Garbage Time Glory

When the Steelers went into the locker room down 21 nothing at the half, losing a point differential of at least 35 points appeared to be in the offing.

Van Jefferson, Steelers vs Ravens

Van Jefferson catches a 30 yard touchdown. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

  • Yet, the Steelers “only” lost by 2 touchdowns.

Did the Steelers make a game of it? Or is that just garbage time glory? It says here that they made a go of it, kinda sorta at least.

The Steelers forced a punt after the opening kickoff in the second half. That punt left the Steelers on their own two. A run to Jaylen Warren yielded 1 yard followed by an incomplete pass.

  • Here Russell Wilson dug deep and hit Calvin Austin for a 29-yard completion.
  • Later he hit Mike Williams on a 37-yard moonball.
  • 2 plays later, on 3rd and 10 he hit Van Jefferson for a 30-yard touchdown.

3 plays later, Derrick Henry gouged the center of the Steelers defense for 44 yards, restoring Baltimore’s 21 point advantage.

But the Steelers weren’t done. Russell Wilson put together another workman like drive, and hit George Pickens for a 30-yard touchdown.

  • The Steelers defense then did what it was supposed to do – it forced a Ravens 3 and out.

With just over full quarter left to play, the Steelers had a real shot at contesting this outcome – if they could only score a touchdown on this drive. The Steelers moved the chains once but, on third and 8, as it has so many times during this losing streak, the receivers couldn’t get open, the line couldn’t protect Wilson long enough, and he got sacked.

The Steelers defense actually forced another punt, but the offense turned over on downs.

Bitter Defeat Reinforces Brutal Reality

The loss to the Ravens didn’t reveal anything news about the Pittsburgh Steelers that we hadn’t seen in the last month and frankly probably should have known since the summer – this is a team with a 9 or 10 win ceiling.

But the loss did reinforce the reality that a sharp delta continues to separate the Steelers from the NFL’s true championship contenders.

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Steelers Report Card for Playoff Loss to Ravens: Tired of Failing Final Exams Edition

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Taken from the gradebook of a teacher who is tired of seeing students fail final exams, here is the Pittsburgh Steelers Report Card for the 2024 Playoff Loss to the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.

Lamar Jackson, Patrick Queen, Steelers vs Ravens

Lamar Jackson throws a touchdown to Justin Hill. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Quarterback
Russell Wilson was 20 of 29 for 270 yards two touchdowns, no interceptions and no fumbles. He was however sacked 4 times. What stands out more than his numbers was his leadership. The Steelers easily could have folded, but Wilson led them on two touchdown drives and kinda-sorta made a go of it in the 2nd half. Justin Fields threw one incompletion. Grade: CSteelers, Report Card, grades,

Running Backs
Najee Harris ran for 17 yards on 6 carries and caught 3 passes for 41 yards. Jaylen Warren ran for 6 yards on 2 carries an caught 4 passes for 19 yards. The Steelers needed more from their running backs. A lot more. Grade: F

Tight Ends
Pat Freiermuth dropped the game’s first pass and failed to convert a third down twice when the Steelers needed it. Darnell Washington had one catch for 9 yards on 3 targets. The Steelers needed more from their tight ends. Grade: F

Wide Receivers
Led the unit with 5 catches for 87 yards, but his PI penalty was brutal. Calvin Austin had one impressive catch for 25 yards. Mike Williams had a catch for 37 yards and Van Jefferson had 2 for 37 including a touchdown. Grade: C-

Offensive Line
Russell Wilson was sacked 4 times – yes some of those were coverage sacks, but line needed to give him more time. The sample size for their rushing effort is pretty spare, but clearly the line wasn’t pushing Ravens defenders off the ball. Grade: F

Defensive Line
The Ravens had 299 yards rushing. Grade: F

Linebackers
Alex Highsmith can say he sacked Lamar Jackson in the playoffs. It was the only time he was touched all night. Not sure if one of the other LB’s was supposed to be spying Jackson. If he was, he didn’t do his job. Derrick Henry had 186 yards rushing. Grade: F

Secondary
Lmarr Jackson “Only” threw for 21 passes. He completed all but 5 of those. 2 were touchdowns. And he was missing his number one wide receiver. Grade: F

Special Teams
Chris Boswell made all of his kicks preventing any returns – not easy to do on a cold Baltimore night. Steelers punt return coverage was strong. And their return game was respectable. Grade: C

Coaching
Credit Arthur Smith for one thing: His offense may have gone down in flames, but at least he didn’t go down in flames trying to “pound” the rock against a brick wall.

Nonetheless, his offense was completely ineffective until thee second half. And, when Steelers had a shot at making a it a one score game with more than a quarter to go, he could protect his quarterback and they couldn’t convert.

I suppose in some form or fashion the idea of yielding some rushing yards to Lamar Jackson to selling out to stop Derrick Henry made sense. But for it work, the Teryl Austin’s defense had to stop Henry. The defense did 5 tackles for losses (not all against Henry).

  • But when it wasn’t doing that, Henry was running at will.

In hindsight, perhaps some day we’ll look back and say that Mike Tomlin deserves to be credited for managing a 10-7 season with this roster, the way Chuck Noll should have been credited with his playoff appearances of the early 80s.

Cam Heyward, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Queen, Larry OgunjobiSteelers vs Ravens

Cam Heyward was a bright stop for the Steelers. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

But that day is not today, and Mike Tomlin now has 5 one and done playoff appearances since his last win. Grade: F

Unsung Hero Award
IF there is one player who clearly carried his weight, shook of injury and authored a winning performance with 2 tackles for losses and 10 tackles total, it is Cam Heyward and for that he wins the Unsung Hero Award for the Steelers 2024 playoff loss to the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.

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Steelers Report Card for the Season-Ending Loss to the Bengals

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Taken from the grade book of a teacher disillusioned four times over, here is the Pittsburgh Steelers Report Card for the 2024 season-ending loss to the Bengals at Acrisure.

Beanie Bishop, Patrick Queen, Beanie Bishop interception Bengals, Steelers vs Bengals

Beanie Bishop intercepts a pass just before the half. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

Quarterback
Russell Wilson was 17 of 31 for 148 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Wilson played well on the Steelers two touchdown drives. But his decision to tuck it and run on the final drive cost the team precious seconds. Likewise, his missed Pickens who was open on the sideline. Wilson doesn’t deserve to be scapegoated for those two plays, but they reveal that the Steelers needed more. Grade: DSteelers, Report Card, grades,

Running Backs
No one will fault Arthur Smith for shying away from “pounding the rock.” But against the Bengals it was also like pounding a head against a brick wall. Najee Harris totaled 36 yards, Jaylen Warren 21 yards and Cordarrelle Patterson 1. The running backs might not have gotten any help from the offensive line, but they neither did themselves, nor the team any favors. Grade: F

Tight Ends
Pat Freiermuth was easily the team’s only viable receiving threat with 8 catches on 11 targets for 85 yards and a touchdown, although he did let Wilson’s final pass slip through his fingers. Darnell Washington drew a crucial pass interference penalty on 3rd down in the end zone that set up the first touchdown. Grade: C

Wide Receivers
Mike Williams made a highlight reel worthy toe tap catch to convert the team’s first 3rd down.  Van Jefferson and 3 catches for 18 yards, but had another 3rd down conversion batted away. Calvin Austin also dropped a pass on a possession down. George Pickens had 6 targets and 1 catch for zero yards and at least three drops. Grade: F

Offensive Line
Regardless of what decisions Mike Tomlin (or Art Rooney II) make about the coaching staff a week from now, the Steelers had better hope that the regression we’re seeing from the line is due more to the proverbial “rookie wall.” Because the offensive line has been regressing since midseason. The Steelers want to be a team that imposes its will. Yet it can’t earn a yard when given two tries. Nor can it protect Russell Wilson. Wilson was sacked 4 times and hit another 8 times. Grade: F

Defensive Line
Cam Heyward battled down 3 pass. Put in other terms, he accounted for 25% of Joe Burrow’s incompletions. Keeanu Benton had a tackle for a loss and recorded his first sack of the season when it was urgently needed. Grade: B

Linebackers
T.J. Watt did not register a tackle, but he did have a strip sack negated by a penalty, and he did pressure Joe Burrow. Patrick Queen, Nick Herbig and Preston Smith all had sacks at critical moments. Payton Wilson led the linebackers in tackles, with Alex Highsmith coming in second. Grade: B+

Secondary
Beanie Bishop made an incredible heads up play to secure an interception before the half. Cory Trice got thrown into the fire, but held up through the night. Joey Porter Jr. had a passed defense. Joe Burrow’s ability to complete “rhythm” passes helped secure their lopsided time of possession advantage. A big part of that’s on the secondary. However, the Bengals never saw the end zone outside of the first quarter and went 1 of 4 in the red zone. That is to the secondary’s credit. Grade: C+

Connor Heyward, Steelers vs Bengals

Connor Heyward recovers a muffed punt. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Special Teams
Chris Boswell hit on his only field goal attempt and was perfect on PATs. Calvin Austin fumbled a punt, but Connor Heyward recovered a muffed Bengals punt. The Steelers did give up more than you’d like to see on kick and punt coverage. Grade: C-

Coaching
Was George Pickens as bad in practice during the week as he was in the game? One would like to think so. Did Arthur Smith over-think things, speculating that “OK, Russell Wilson passed for near-career high yardage last time, so this time we’re gonna surprise them by pounding the rock.” Again, that would be comforting.

The Steelers couldn’t run and couldn’t pass unless the intended receiver was Pat Freiermuth.

Clearly the Steelers Junior Varsity offense has some talent/some talent that needs to mature issues. However, one month ago, Arthur Smith appeared to be putting things together.

  • A month later, they’ve completely fallen apart.

Worse yet, there’s zero indication that Humpty Dumpty can be put back together before the playoffs.

A week ago the Kansas City Chiefs offense humiliated Teryl Austin’s defense. The Steelers looked like frauds. Joe Burrow and the Bengals don’t quite have KC’s pedigree, but they did finish the year as the NFL’s hottest units. And the Steelers defense played them well enough to win.

The loss to the Bengals extends the Steelers losing streak to 4 games, which marks the longest-season ending losing streak since the 1998 Steelers lost their last 5. As head coach Mike Tomlin’s job is to short-circuit these streaks before they occur. He’s failing at that before our very eyes. Grade: F

Unsung Hero Award
Because of him Cincinnati’s first play from scrimmage went for no gain. He helped force a field goal by limiting a pass to no gain. He also had another tackle for a loss on another drive that reached the Red Zone and ended in a field goal. As he has all year long, DeShon Elliott came through with bread and butter plays when the Steelers needed them the most, and for that he wins the Unsung Hero Award for the Steelers season-ending defeat to the Bengals a Acrisure.

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Steelers Lose 19-17 to Bengals as Pittsburgh Suffers from Junior Varsity Offense

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The Pittsburgh Steelers lost 19-17 to the Cincinnati Bengals, closing their 2024 season on a four-game losing streak and setting themselves up for yet another “one and done” trip to the playoffs.

There’s nothing mystical about why the Steelers lost this one. Their defense played well. Their special teams played above the line. But they have a junior varsity offense.

George Pickens, George Pickens drop, Steelers vs Bengals

George Pickens with one of various drops. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

#ICYMI Steelers Defense Rebounded

When Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati offense took the opening kick off and moved down the field with methodical precision to score a touchdown after a six minute drive, it looked like we were in for a long night.

And when Burrow, after a 3-play negative 6-yard drive by the Steelers offense stitched together another 11 play six minute drive that reached the Steelers 26 things were looking grim.

  • But Patrick Queen delivered a sack on third down, and forced the Bengals to settle for a field goal.

In fact, that first touchdown was the only one the Bengals would score all night. If you had known going into the game that the Bengals would achieve a 16-minute time of possession advantage, you’d have probably thought Burrow and Company would have put well over 30 points on the board.

Conversely, if you knew going into the game that the Steelers were going to limit the Bengals to 19 points you’d have probably thought that indicated a Pittsburgh victory. The truth is that the Steelers defense stepped up multiple times throughout the night:

  • Cam Heyward batted back 3 passes and should have been credited with a half sack
  • Cory Trice  DeShon Elliott and Payton Wilson all made key stops for losses
  • Keeanu Benton, Preston Smith and Nick Herbig all came up with sacks at critical moments
  • Patrick Queen and Beanie Bishop killed a drive with a pass-deflection, interception combo
  • Joey Porter Jr. deflected a pass to Jamar Chase late in the game

By any measure, the Steelers defense played well enough against the Bengals to win.

Unfortunately, they needed the offense to do its share. The offense wasn’t up to it, as two critical series at the end of both halves reveal.

Defense Delivers, Offense Does Not, First Half

With 3:36 left in the first half, Preston Smith sack Burrow, forcing a Cincinnati punt. Calvin Austin was in route to a decent return, when he put the ball on the ground, with the Bengals recovering and Pittsburgh’s 33.

That seemed to gift-wrap at least 3 if not 7 points for the Bengals. And the Bengals did make it all the way to Pittsburgh’s 21, but there Queen and Bishop combined to pick off the ball, giving Russell Wilson a minute and 10 seconds to get into scoring range.

Wilson hit Pat Freiermuth twice to get things going, but after Replay assist turned a 10 yard gain into a 9-yard gain, the Steelers faced a third and 1. Mike Tomlin chose to be aggressive.

After the game he defended his decision making this way, “If you can’t get a yard you don’t deserve to win.”

  • The Steelers tried a sneak with Russell Wilson on third. It failed.
  • They ran it to Jaylen Warren on 4th down. He failed.

That gave the Bengals the ball at the 37 with 0:48 seconds remaining and allowed the Bengals to kick a 3 point field goal what would ultimately be a two point game.

Special Teams, Defense Deliver, Offense Does Not, Second Half

With 5:25 remaining Corliss Waitman took to the field to punt after yet another three and out. But the ball bounced off of a Bengal’s shoe, and Connor Heyward made the heads up play to recover it.

  • Once again, the Steelers had secured a turnover when they needed it most.

Yet the Steelers offense could only manage 2 yards on 6 plays, thanks to sacks and penalties, and instead of a go-ahead touchdown, the Steelers had to settle for a Chris Boswell field goal.

But the Steelers defense followed with might have been its best effort all night. Joe Burrow only needed to burn 2:29 off the clock on a night when the Bengals already had a 15 minute time of possession advantage.

Burrow only added 29 seconds to that advantage thanks to stout run stuffing by Alex Highsmith, smart pass defense by Corey Thrice and Patrick Queen and Keeanu Benton getting his first sack of the season on third down.

  • The Steelers had a full two minutes to get into field goal range.
  • They managed to run 7 plays during that span.
  • Wilson completed two passes
  • He was sacked once and took off on an ill-advised run on another occasion
  • He missed an open George Pickens

Pat Freiermuth also let a pass slip through his hands on 4th down although it is doubtful that the Steelers would have had time to line up for a field goal had he caught it.

Junior Varsity Offense, Plain and Simple

Seventeen games and four straight losses have revealed a harsh reality about the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers: They have a junior varsity offense.

  • It is as simple as that.

On Steel City Insider, Jim Wexell began arguing at mid-season that “The Steelers have a run-focused offense that lacks a running game.”

In The Athletic Mike DeFabo argues that while the Steelers want their identity to be one as a physical team that pounds the rock, “There’s a serious disconnect between what the Steelers want to be … and what they actually are.”

Both reporters are right, and their comment expose the roots of why the Steelers lost to the Bengals.

And while it is easy to look at how well the Steelers threw against the Bengals just one month ago, Pat Freiermuth Pittsburgh’s only reliable receiving threat when the Bengals visited Acrisure. To wit, on the Steelers last two drives, they tried to air it out instead of “pounding the rock” (the inane pitch to Cordarrelle Patterson notwithstanding) and came up short.

  • Are the Steelers offensive woes rooted in deficiencies of talent or coaching?

That’s a question for Art Rooney II must begin answering next Sunday morning — unless Mike Tomlin can figure out a way to out score “Mr. Jackson” and “Mr. Henry” with a Junior Varsity offense.

Yeah, maybe Art better start thinking long and hard about this question right now.

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“Choto” Steelers Fall to Chiefs 29-10 on Christmas Day

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The Kansas City Chiefs came into Acrisure Stadium on Christmas day 2024 and delivered a 29 to 10 drubbing to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This marked Pittsburgh’s third consecutive loss to an NFL heavyweight team, it ruined the franchise’s perfect record in Christmas games and, worse yet, ceded the lead over the AFC North to the Baltimore Ravens.

  • The loss itself wasn’t entirely unexpected.

The Chiefs after all are 2 time defending Super Bowl Champions. But way in which the team lost was sobering, because for the first time in a very long while, the Steelers looked completely choto.

“Choto” is of course Argentine slang for “coming up short,” but using it carries a distinct anatomical connotation, which we can all agree is appropriate.

Russell Wilson, Steelers vs Chiefs, Chiefs sack Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson is sacked. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Steelers Begin by Breaking the 1st Rule of Playing Mahomes

“When you’re playing Patrick Mahomes, you have zero margin for error.” My friend Matt C. Steel has been hammering this point when writing about how the Steelers must approach team building in the post-Ben Roethlisberger era.

So while Jaylen Warren bobbling the opening kickoff in the end zone had no practical impact on the game, one had to wonder if it was a harbinger of things to come – and indeed it was.

  • The Steelers started with a 7 yard strike to  Pat Freiermuth – Good
  • Najee Harris followed with a 1-yard run – Not so good
  • Russell Wilson got sacked for an 11-yard loss as he recovered his fumble – Bad
  • Corliss Waitman only manages a 40 punt – Not so good
  • Nikko Remigio returns the punt for 25 yards – Bad

Only one minute and thirty five seconds had elapsed. The score remained 0-0, but the Steelers had managed to make 5 errors on 3 offensive and 2 special teams plays.

I guess the fact that Patrick Mahomes required 8 plays to get Kanas City his first score does go to show that the principle that it is easier to tear down that it is to build applies to football.

On their next drive the Steelers actually showed a little life with a 10 yard Najee Harris run. But that was unfortunately scuttled by another Russell Wilson sack. This time Corliss Waitman boomed off a 58 yard punt. And Mark Robinson forced Nikko Remigio fumble, yet once again the Steelers couldn’t recover.

  • On his next go-around, Patrick Mahomes only needed 7 plays to add another touchdown.

And it was here that the Steelers would make their “final” stand against the Chiefs, as a 41 yard hook up to George Pickens and authoritative runs by Jaylen Warren had the Steelers knocking at the door Kanas City’s 8.

  • Warren ripped off another decisive run to reach the end zone.
  • But a Darnell Washington penalty took that off the board.
  • Russell Wilson tried to force it to Pat Freiermuth, but got picked off by Justin Reid

Two minutes and sixteen seconds remained in the first quarter, and the Steelers were already down 14-0 and the game was already over for Pittsburgh. Technically you could argue that the Steelers were still in it until Freiermuth’s fumble early in the 4th quarter.

But for all practical purposes, it was clear very early on that the Steelers were going to come up painfully short against the three time champion Kansas City Chiefs.

Let’s look at why.

Offense Needs More than George Pickens

After the game Matt C. Steel wrote extensively on Steel City Insider about what ails the Steelers offense. In Matt’s view over-reliance on the shot gun has ill suited the Steelers during this 3 game run.

Instinct tells me that there’s a lot of merit to Matt’s argument from a technical, X’s and O’s perspective. Practically, I suspect he’s missing the point.

  • The Steelers simply don’t have enough talent on offense.
  • Scheming  can’t make up for it, at least not in championship-level matches

The offensive line got manhandled. The group is young. They may “get there.” But they is not ready for prime time.

The offense also lacks dynamic playmakers in the passing game. George Pickens is a “Play Maker” albeit one who brings a lot of baggae. Pat Freiermuth is a “play maker.” Calvin Austin could develop into a “play maker” or perhaps even a “Play Maker,” but he’s not quite there yet.

Russell Wilson, at age 36 can still play winning football. Perhaps even he can even play championship football. But he can’t carry this team by himself. And frankly he’s hurt the team when he’s tried.

Justin Reid, Steelers vs Chiefs, Steelers Chiefs Christmas

Justin Reid intercepts Russell Wilson. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

After 15 games it is clear that the Steelers run focused offense is focusing on the wrong running back.

Najee Harris, by all accounts, goes out of his way to piss off the press when the cameras aren’t rolling. Because of that he took some unwarranted criticism over the last two seasons. But as he closes out his fourth year, Najee Harris simply isn’t consistent enough to be a feature back in this offense.

Omar Khan and Andy Weidl showed they understand that when they declined to pick up his 5th year option. The coaches would be wise to follow suit by shifting carries from Harris to Warren for the duration of the season.

Damning Day for the Defense?

Much has been made of the Steelers league-leading investment in the defense, in the form of blue chip contracts for T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward and Minkah Fitzpatrick – among others. This investment of salary cap space flies in the face of the conventional wisdom that in the 2020’s, the NFL is all about offense.

Pittsburgh has gambled that focusing on defense will allow the Steelers to go toe-to-toe with the Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jacksons and Patrick Mahomeses of the NFL.

  • Well, they did do it against Jackson the first time they faced him
  • They were missing 4 starters for the game against Hurts and the 2nd game against Jackson
  • But they were at full heath against Maholmes

And Maholmes not only dominated the Steelers, he made it look easy. “Easy” as in he made it look like he was Ricky Steamboat going up against Mr. X at the Mid Hudson Civic Center in a 1980’s Saturday morning Championship wrestling match up.

  • Yes, there’s a reason why Patrick Mahomes is 15-1 seeking his third straight Super Bowl.

But that’s precisely the point. If Mahomes the measuring stick then the Steelers are indeed choto.

Very very choto.

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Steelers Report Card for Christmas Loss to Chiefs: Failing 3 Straight Term Papers Edition

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Taken from the grade book of a teacher dismayed to see his students fail 3 straight term papers heading into exams, here is the Pittsburgh Steelers Report Card for the Christmas Day loss to the Chiefs at Acrisure.

Travis Kelce, Donte Jackson, Steelers vs Chiefs, Steelers Chiefs Christmas 2024

Travis Kelce scorches the Steelers. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Quarterback
Russell Wilson went 23 of 37 for 205 yards and one interception. He also gave up five sacks and put the ball on the ground again, although he recovered. The Steelers needed an A+ performance from Wilson. Instead they got the opposite. Grade: FSteelers, Report Card, grades,

Running Backs
Najee Harris ran for 74 yards on 13 carries and had 2 catches from 7 yards. Cordarrelle Patterson and 1 catch for 2 yards. The Steelers lost for a lot of reasons against the Chiefs, but collectively the running backs were not one of them. Grade: C

Tight Ends
Pat Freiermuth had 7 catches for 60 yards, which going into the game should have indicated things were going well. But Freiermuth also had a costly fumble. Darnell Washington had 1 catch for 8 yards but a penalty of his wiped a score off the board. Connor Heyward had 1 catch for 8 yards. Grade: D

Wide Receivers
George Pickens had 3 catches for 60 yards, but 41 of those came on a single moon ball. Calvin Austin had 4 catches for 31 yards. Mike Williams and Van Jefferson had 0 catches on 3 targets. The Steelers needed more from their wide outs. Grade: D

Offensive Line
Russell Wilson was sacked 5 times. The running backs did have decent blocking at times, but the Steelers needed the line to dominate up front. Instead they were dominated more often than not. Grade: F

Defensive Line
The good news is the Steelers actually limited the Chiefs on the ground. The bad news is that they didn’t need to run the ball much. Patrick Mahomes was only touched twice, once by Cam Heyward. Grade: F

Linebackers
T.J. Watt had a tackle for a loss. He also tipped a pass which Patrick Queen couldn’t catch. Nick Herbig had a QB hit. Mahomes had all day to throw. A very below the line performance. Grade: F

Secondary
The Chiefs were only 3-10 on third down conversions. Perhaps that’s because they made 16 first downs though the air. The Steelers secondary did not play well. Grade: F

Special Teams
Nikko Remigio made some noise for the Chiefs both on kick and punt returns. Corliss Waitman helped set one of those up with a short punt. Chris Boswell was 1-1 on field goals and extra points, but the Steelers needed more from their special teams. Grade: D

Coaching
For two weeks the Steelers had to go against NFL heavyweights with one arm tied behind their offense’s back. And, if not for a few mistakes, they could have made a go in both of those games.

Against the Chiefs Arthur Smith had his dynamic playmaker back, and the Steelers offense at full health was simply not up to the challenge. A lot of this may come down to talent and not tactics, but the offensive effort was sub-par.

  • The Steelers defense was a disaster.

Teryl Austin had his defense at full strength, minus Joey Porter Jr., and Patrick Mahomes schooled them at every turn and in every way possible.

Jaylen Warren, Steelers vs Chiefs, Steelers Chiefs, Christmas Day

Jaylen Warren rushes. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

After the loss to the Eagles, the Steelers came out with fire against the Ravens on a short week. On an even shorter week, they came out flat against the Chiefs and their many errors which they committed early and often suggested a lack of focus. And that is firmly on Mike Tomlin’s shoulders. Grade: F

Unsung Hero Award
For a second straight week, this player’s star shown bright. In fact, his rushing was so decisive that, in another context (or perhaps had he been given a chance) he may have even been able to take over the game, and for that reason, Jaylen Warren wins the Unsung Hero Award for the Christmas Day loss to the Chiefs at Acrisure.

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