In the aftermath of Sunday's 16-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Pittsburgh Steelers saw what little hopes they may of had when it came to getting into the NFL playoffs in five weeks. The plan was simple. Win your remaining five games on the schedule and pray above for a lot of help.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 11: George Pickens #14 of the Pittsburgh Steelers catches a pass as Marlon Humphrey #44 of the Baltimore Ravens defends during the second quarter of the game at Acrisure Stadium on December 11, 2022, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Nothing in life is easy. And on Sunday, finding a way to win was not in the cards.
You can look at the injury to Kenny Pickett, and perhaps lay blame at the feet of Mitch Trubisky who threw three costly interceptions. You may even talk about the bizarre personnel moves Matt Canada made in the second half, or point a finger at the $100-million defense who needed to make one stop at the end of the game and failed as to why they lost and each one would be fair to argue.
But life isn't fair. And this loss falls under one umbrella. The one Head Coach Mike Tomlin carries.
Steelers Loss To Ravens Follows Familiar Storyline For Tomlin-Led Teams
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin walks the sideline vs Baltimore Ravens. Photo Credit - Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
Maybe it was the way the Steelers came out of the by-week that had me thinking, along with others, that this team was starting to turn things around. It's not hard to do that when you start the season 2-6 and are at the bottom of almost every offensive category and find yourself sniffing a top-five draft spot. Rare air for sure given the success the Steelers have had over the past 50 seasons. But having won three of four and riding a modest two-game win streak, the men of steel had some momentum on their side.
When you mix into the equation that former NFL MVP Lamar Jackson was not going to play due to an injury suffered the week prior, the Steelers went from decided underdogs to favorites in the span of hours once that news was presented.
It's a spot that Mike Tomlin just doesn't fare well in.
I've gone over this not only on this site but have written about it prior to 2022. When Mike Tomlin is facing a game he needs to win as a favorite, one where the odds are clearly in his favor, when personal-wise he's got an advantage, the Steelers lose. And Sunday when I woke up, I said as much.
The truth is, there was too much going against Tomlin for him to come up with a game plan to win. Time and again he's been in this spot. Just off the top of my head, twice versus the Raiders and Jaguars in 2018 and 2017. There were road losses to the Jets and Browns in that mix and who can forget the OT playoff loss to Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos in 2011?
If memory loss were only an option in this situation. Big losses in bad spots have become a calling card of sorts for Tomlin. And Sunday was no different.
Steelers Questionable Personal Decisions, Lack Of Execution Fall on Tomlin's Watch
Mike Tomlin after the Steelers loss to Baltimore. Photo Credit - Aaron Anastasia/Pittsburgh Steelers
Let me be clear that Mike Tomlin does not run the offense as the quarterback. He's not an end rusher or safety. He's not running fly routes deep to the middle. He's the head coach and can't control how his players play. But the execution of things, the people on the field, the play selection; that all runs through him. Coordinators aside, Mike Tomlin signs off on all of it, and Sunday, he wrote some bad checks.
To be fair, Mitch Trubisky did lead the Steelers on a very big touchdown drive as soon as he came into the game. He found George Pickens twice in that series, one that culminated in a Najee Harris TD run that cut the Ratbirds lead to 10-7. However, it would be the closest the Steelers would get until just prior to the two-minute warning of the fourth quarter. Mitch soiled himself in the second quarter on back-to-back drives he led deep into enemy territory, only to throw a pair of costly interceptions. He finished the day with three picks total.
Lump in a sub-20 yard punt by Pressley Harvin III that lead to the game's first touchdown, allowing a field goal to be blocked when you were down by six and needed those points, only to watch right after that a third-string quarterback execute a 13-play drive that ate up 7:55 of the clock and culminated in a field goal giving Baltimore a nine-point lead. The icing on the cake was going 75 yards in just 49 seconds to cut the lead and leave just enough time on the clock to get a stop and the ball back with just under two minutes to play.
All you needed was a stop. Just one three and out. You know the rest. And so does Tomlin. All too well.
Steelers Sights Should Be on 2023 Draft Position And Not Fairytale Playoff Run
Mike Tomlin at Acrisure Stadium vs. Baltimore Ravens. Photo Credit - Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
Let's put the hopes of a playoff berth aside. It's over. With that said, attention must now shift to the upcoming draft. As of this article, the Steelers are sitting in the 13th spot, and should they stay there, the debate shall begin on what position they need to key in on.
Of course, free agency will dictate some of this, but that aside, it's safe to say the first losing season for Mike Tomlin has come to pass. Where they finish and how they look ahead are what matters. Losing is never easy. For Mike Tomlin, losing when you are favored to win, has sadly become second nature.
So Steelers fans, do you fault Mike Tomlin, or is there too much blame to be passed around for this terrible loss to the Ravens? Sound off below!
#SteelerNation
