The Pittsburgh Steelers are enduring a nightmare stretch, suffering consecutive home losses to two of the NFL's weakest teams. After being shut out by the Los Angeles Chargers the previous week, the New England Patriots marched into Acrisure Stadium and hung up 21 points in the first half. 

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Former Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster catches a pass.

Steelers fans are becoming increasingly frustrated with their legendary Head Coach, Mike Tomlin. Although he's has never led the Steelers to a losing regular season, his recurring playoff disappointments and ability to squander winnable football games have become a prominent concern. Consecutive losses to two of the NFL's weakest teams have appeared to test the patience of even the most ardent Tomlin supporters, pushing them to their breaking point.

Ryan Clark's Honest Assessment

The Steelers haven't won a playoff game since January 15th, 2017. Former Steelers player and staunch advocate for Tomlin, Ryan Clark, voiced his opinions on the situation in Pittsburgh.

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Former Steelers safety Ryan Clark makes an appearance on Get Up.

During a recent appearance on Get Up, Clark openly discussed his former coach, expressing both love and respect for Tomlin. However, he didn't shy away from criticizing the current state of the team.

"Mike Tomlin has to change. What they do offensively has to change, and the effort, accountability, and pressure have to be different, or nothing will change when it comes to the outcome of games."

Coming from someone like Clark, who has been an ardent defender of Tomlin in the past, these comments are significant. Clark also emphasized the need for someone in the Steelers' locker room to step up and make a statement. He questioned the effort and attitude of players like Diontae Johnson, suggesting that they shouldn't be given opportunities if they don't display the right mindset.

“It’s time for somebody to make a statement in that locker room. If you act like Diontae Johnson, ain't no way in h*** you getting a shot on 4th & 2. If you act like Diontae Johnson, ain't no way in h*** you are getting an opportunity to score a touchdown. If we ain't going to be good anyway, at least be who we are supposed to be. A team that’s going to be held accountable. A team that’s going to show up everyday, every play, and give everything they got, whether they are good enough or not, and we sure as hell aren’t going to reward the people that don’t.”

Johnson has faced criticism for his attitude during the 2023 season, including celebrating a meaningless touchdown during a lopsided loss to the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday.

Accountability Starts At The Top

According to Clark, the responsibility for players like Johnson being rewarded, despite their lack of effort, falls on Tomlin. As the head coach, Tomlin sets the tone in the locker room and should ensure that accountability is a top priority.

“People who aren’t putting their hand in the pile every single play are being rewarded for just wearing the colors and that starts with Mike Tomlin.”

It's important to note that the Steelers are grappling with numerous injuries, and they lost star linebacker Alex Highsmith to injury Thursday night as well. Additionally, backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky has struggled mightily. However, injuries are a part of the NFL, and excuses don't cut it. 

In December, injuries are a common challenge for every NFL team. This includes the Patriots, who had some key players sidelined as well. Notably, players like Rhamondre Stevenson, Kayshon Boutte, DeVante Parker, and Shaun Wade were unavailable for Thursday night's game due to their injuries. Proving, using injuries as an excuse simply cannot be justified.

Ugly Situation In Pittsburgh

The Steelers currently find themselves in an unenviable position. Sitting in third place in the AFC North and practically begging to miss the playoffs, the 2023 season has quickly turned grim. The team's recent performances have been among the worst in the past decade, and something must change. The situation in Pittsburgh is dire, with no signs of immediate improvement on the horizon. 

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Steelers' Mike Tomlin looks on as he loses another home game to a 10-loss team.

With a current record of 7-6, the Steelers have an opportunity to change the course of their season when they take on the Indianapolis Colts on December 16th. However, what once seemed like a winnable game now feels like an uphill battle before it even kicks off.

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