No one expected Pittsburgh Steelers' starting quarterback, Kenny Pickett to depart Sunday's divisional matchup against the Baltimore Ravens with a concussion late in the first quarter of a critical game for both teams. Mitchell Trubisky came in to replace the rookie and although his 276 passing yards may hint that he had a good game, he threw three interceptions that all were picked off inside the opponent's 10-yard line. Baltimore, on the other hand, did not turn the ball over and the mistakes for Mike Tomlin's team offensively were absolutely the main reason for the loss.
Steelers then starting quarterback, Mitch Trubisky (#10) warms up for a 2022 regular season game against the New York Jets at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. | The Steelers’ Defense Shockingly Unable To Stop Only Dimension Of Offense Ravens Had To Offer In Week 14
Following the unfortunate 16-14 loss, Tomlin spoke to the media as he usually does. His time in front of the cameras was short and sweet, but he harped on the inability to convert in Baltimore territory and, in part, attributed the loss to Trubisky's turnovers. He was not shy to call out the interceptions.
"You know, you just can't turn the ball over, particularly in the nature of this matchup," Tomlin told local and national reporters after the crushing defeat.
More specifically, Tomlin spoke about where the interceptions occurred. The common fan knows it as the red zone, but Pittsburgh's head coach referred to it as something a little different.
"Usually the team that turns the ball over in the red area is the team that loses. They've turned it over some in the red area in recent matchups. We won those games. We turned it over in the red area in this one and so, we lost this one."
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin pumps his fist as he walks on the field before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Trubisky led the offense down the field on his first drive and in led to a Najee Harris touchdown. The possession clearly gave the quarterback an overwhelming amount of confidence and that didn't seem to waver. He made many bold throws and on his first two interceptions, he was trying to force the ball to tight end, Pat Freiermuth over the middle of the field. The third and final was an odd deep ball that was thrown into double coverage. Wide receiver, Diontae Johnson never had a shot to come down with the catch near the end zone.
Mitch Trubisky finally gets his first real chance to play in weeks and already thrown two INTs in the first half.pic.twitter.com/4VJcZoXZAj
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 11, 2022
Since the bye week, Pickett and the offense did not turn the ball over once and it led to a strong 3-1 stretch that revived playoff hopes. The unfortunate performance from Trubisky in relief could now be looked at as the final knockout punch in the 2022 season. If the offense would have even settled for a field goal instead of a turnover on any of the three drives, it could have been a completely different outcome.
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 22: Mitch Trubisky #10 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs off the field during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 22, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
The ugly loss all but ensures that no one is going to challenge Pickett for the starting job in the near future. After leaving with a possible concussion, which would be his second of his young NFL career, Tomlin may have to consider giving Mason Rudolph a chance in Week 15 against the Carolina Panthers. Regardless of whoever takes the snaps a week from Sunday, Trubisky's poor play and questionable decisions against Baltimore have to raise some questions heading into the off-season.
Do you think Trubisky is mainly at fault for the Steelers loss to the Ravens? Let us know in the comments below!
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