The Pittsburgh Steelers are reeling following their third straight loss. Before December began, the Steelers were riding high, and many pundits were starting to seriously consider them Super Bowl contenders. Then they played the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, and Kansas City Chiefs in just 10 days. Losing all three was the least ideal situation, and now Pittsburgh has lost control over the AFC North. Winning cures all, but when you go on a three-game losing streak, it's bound to cause some internal issues within the locker room.
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Steelers' DeShon Elliott takes a knee during OTAs in 2024.
Safety DeShon Elliott was visibly upset after the loss to the Chiefs in his first game back after missing the Eagles and Ravens games with an injury. In the aftermath, Elliott called out certain players for not doing their jobs, a comment that didn’t sit well with everyone in the Steelers' camp. While frustration is natural in the wake of a tough loss, calling out teammates publicly can stir tension and create division in a locker room already under pressure.
Former Steelers safety and current ESPN analyst Ryan Clark was not happy with Elliott’s remarks. Clark, known for his blunt opinions, expressed his dissatisfaction with the way Elliott handled the situation. He believes that publicly calling out teammates is not the way to solve internal struggles and that such comments could only exacerbate the Steelers' problems as they try to regain their footing and get a win over the Cincinnati Bengals before the postseason.
"What the h**l is going on in Pittsburgh? What happened here? DeShon Elliott is sitting up there with the two-five on his hat just talking crazy," Clark said Friday on First Take.
Elliott wasn’t the only player with strong words after the game. In fact, veteran leader Cam Heyward didn’t hold back in his comments following the Steelers' 29-10 loss to the Chiefs on Christmas Day. Heyward essentially said the team is doomed when 10 players do their job, but one player doesn’t. While the player in question hasn’t been named, this has left Steeler Nation guessing, with fans trying to figure out which defensive player is out of position and missing assignments.
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Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward stares down the crowd during a Pittsburgh Steelers' game against the Cleveland Browns.
Linebacker Patrick Queen was also visibly frustrated after the Ravens loss, and his comments following the Chiefs game only added to the tension. When your defensive leaders are calling out a mystery player, it signals a serious issue within the team. The good news, if there is any, is that there’s still time for the Steelers to finish the regular season on a high note and regain their composure before the postseason.
Steelers' Mike Tomlin Facing Huge Pressure Once Again Late In The Season
For Pittsburgh to have any shot at the postseason, they’ll likely need a win against the Bengals to carry momentum into the playoffs. If they can make a deep playoff run, this three-game skid will be forgotten. But if they end up one-and-done again in the postseason, this losing streak will be the moment every pundit and fan points to as the turning point.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Mike Tomlin looks on during a game against the Browns in Week 12.
Mike Tomlin is widely regarded as a great head coach, but he hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season. If he fails to do so in 2024, it will become increasingly difficult to justify his team’s late-season collapses. The pressure will mount, and the conversation around his tenure will inevitably shift.
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