Steelers' Unbelievable Loss To Patriots Glazed Over By Mike Tomlin In Shameful Comments

The Pittsburgh Steelers were in an enviable situation entering Week 13, sitting at 7-4, with their 2023 playoff destiny squarely in their control. This was largely thanks to the firing of Matt Canada. As it turns out, the joy was short-lived, and Weeks 13 and 14 of 2023 proved to be disastrous. Following their second consecutive loss to a two-win team, Mike Tomlin doesn't seem to have a firm grasp on the circumstances he and his team find themselves in. Despite having several days to consider what to tell the media, Tomlin once again showed his disconnect with the state of the 2023 Steelers.

Steelers' Mike Tomlin Again Proves A Lack Of Accountability

Considering how far the 2023 Steelers have fallen in just two short weeks, one would think that a head coach as tuned into the players as Tomlin is supposed to be would recognize the need to take responsibility for the current disaster. However, when given the perfect chance to do just that, Tomlin showed that there is one way of looking at things: his way.

During Tomlin's Monday presser to discuss the extremely forgettable loss to the New England Patriots, the Steelers head coach did everything but absorb blame for the downfall. It takes a great deal of disappointment to erase the kind of city-wide happiness that existed once Canada was fired, but that is exactly what has happened. Tomlin was asked whether he had witnessed a regression in the play quality from his squad, aside from results, and Tomlin did what he does best: avoid.

"I think, you know if you took a collection of plays - any collection of plays - certainly. Particularly if you're talking about the outcome of games, certainly. But not dramatically, no, you know. We need to play better, certainly, but as I described the recent game, if we hold them to a field goal after that turnover [then] there's the point differential."

It seemed like, as Tomlin began his answer, that perhaps this was the moment where Tomlin admitted how short the team had fallen from expectations, especially after lifting everyone's hopes with their victory in Week 12. However, Tomlin quickly retreated back to his safe haven of shrugging off reality and instead chose to use one of his platitudes to explain away yet another series of disappointments.

Tomlin didn't stop there, though. Despite knowing full well that the Steelers had just lost in historic fashion to two teams who were living at the bottom of the NFL, for some reason, he still refused to give in to what was actually going on around him. In years past, the refusal to give in to the media was seen as a positive trait from a younger coach bucking the trend. Now, though, it has become a tired repetition of the same excuses, and both the reporters and the fans have had just about enough of it.

"And so, oftentimes, the outcome of games are really subtle things. The ability to stand up and hold somebody to a field goal when they're on the short field after a turnover or not! Oftentimes, that being the difference in the outcome of games."

Apparently, the fact that the 2023 Steelers were supposed to handily beat both the Arizona Cardinals and the Patriots doesn't matter to Tomlin. When you get that kind of dry answer about a game your team was supposed to win after a pathetic showing in Week 13, then questions about the head coach are not only expected, but may be necessary.

Steelers Fans Ready To Move On From Tomlin?

If you rewind just a few weeks, this question would seem ludicrous to even pose. Following the horrible 2023 Week 11 loss to the Cleveland Browns, Canada was fired, and the Steelers gained over 400 yards of offense in their next game for the first time in years. All that goodwill that Tomlin built up from making that rare move has been spent thanks to back-to-back losses that would have sent the Steelers tumbling out of the playoff race had it not been for a few welcome losses by other teams on Sunday.

The narrative of Tomlin never having a losing season was great for a while, but recently, it's become more frustrating than comforting. The strong bond between Tomlin and the city of Pittsburgh is waning, and for good reason. While there are many teams in the NFL who would love to claim a career without a single losing season, it becomes common and usual when it's the only measure of success your franchise has known for the last decade or so.

You never know with Tomlin, though, and there could be a foundational resurgence within the locker room that directly translates to the football field. We could be feeling pretty foolish in four weeks if Tomlin does his magic and pulls this disjointed team together as he has done countless times in the past. This time, though, the question has to be whether Tomlin's late-season heroics are what the Steelers need for their future. With Tomlin only having one more year on his contract and no talks of an extension being heard, does it serve the franchise well to bring him back knowing the kind of season they should expect?

Tomlin has four weeks to show everyone that they are wrong or to prove them completely right. We could know much sooner than that if the Steelers continue this losing streak, but considering Tomlin's refusal to have a losing season on his resume, it'll probably come down to the wire.

What do you think about Tomlin's remarks? Comment below!

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