The Pittsburgh Steelers needed a win to get back on track against the Cincinnati Bengals before the playoffs. Unfortunately, they gave about as awful of an effort as any fan could have asked for. From the start of the game, the Bengals came out hot, and the Steelers were shell-shocked. While the defense eventually stepped up and made things more difficult for Joe Burrow and his lethal offense, the damage had already been done.
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Steelers' George Pickens appears angry on the sideline.
The real issue, though, was the Steelers’ offense. Russell Wilson struggled throughout the game, unable to find any rhythm. George Pickens had a rough night, dropping passes that could’ve extended drives. Even Pat Freiermuth, who had been playing well, let a crucial catch slip through his hands—one that might’ve put the Steelers in field goal range to steal a last-minute win. But the offense’s failure wasn’t the only problem; Mike Tomlin’s questionable clock management added to the difficulty.
After the game, Tomlin addressed the media and was asked why his offense could perform so well against the Bengals just a few weeks ago on the road, but struggled so badly this time. His response is sure to upset fans, as he offered a lackluster explanation that did little to justify the team's offensive regression. Steelers fans are bound to be frustrated by the same old rhetoric after such a disappointing loss.
"We made plays in that one," Tomlin said. "We didn’t make enough routine plays in this one."
Tomlin is known for his memorable sayings, and he often turns to familiar phrases, especially in difficult situations.
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Steelers' Pat Freiermuth celebrates a big catch against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The 19-17 loss to the Bengals was disappointing for many reasons, but one stands out: just a month ago, the Steelers’ offense thrived against this same defense. Now, they can't even gain a yard with two attempts to secure a first down.
Steelers' Arthur Smith Has The Offense Struggling Big Time
Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith has been underwhelming down the stretch. His name has been tossed around as a potential head coach candidate, but that feels hard to believe given the fact that he can't get more than 17 points against a bad Bengals defense. Any team that holds Cincinnati to 19 points should win, but the Steelers couldn’t. The blame for this must fall squarely on the shoulders of the man in charge of the offense.
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Steelers' Arthur Smith looks on during preseason game against the Texans.
The regression has been alarming, and hearing Tomlin blame routine plays for the struggles isn’t good enough. Yes, missed routine plays—like dropped passes—played a part, but Wilson made several poor decisions down the stretch. The playcalling was predictable and lacked creativity, which allowed a subpar Bengals defense to control the game.
The silver lining is that the Steelers have already clinched a playoff spot. The playoffs bring a fresh start, but heading into them on a four-game losing streak isn't ideal. Pittsburgh is likely to face the Baltimore Ravens in the first round unless the Los Angeles Chargers lose on Sunday.
If that happens, the Steelers would face the Houston Texans on the road. With the playoff picture soon to be set, these tough losses could quickly be forgotten with a playoff win that builds momentum. However, a loss, and things will take a much uglier turn.
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