Mike Tomlin and Steelers' Disastrous Season Proves They're Not to Be Taken Seriously

A Disastrous Week 7 Showdown for the Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers' Week 7 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football was a nightmare that left fans and analysts alike questioning the team's viability. Unless head coach Mike Tomlin had more to say about Joe Flacco's trade to the Bengals than anyone realized, this game was an unmitigated disaster. Despite clawing back to take a late lead, the Steelers immediately gave it up, falling to their rival Bengals 33-31.

After starting with a 10-0 lead, the Bengals took control of the game. They responded in the late second quarter with two touchdown passes from Flacco, including one on an ugly interception by Aaron Rodgers. Then, after Rodgers threw his second pick of the quarter in the final minutes, Cincinnati extended its halftime lead to 17-10 with a field goal.

From there, the game became a back-and-forth battle between the AFC North rivals. The Steelers finally landed what looked like the final blow with a 68-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Pat Freiermuth, though it came on a busted coverage. However, the Bengals proved too strong, cutting through the defense with ease. A key play by Tee Higgins set up the game-winning field goal by Zach McPherson.

This game could have been a blowout, but instead, it turned into an entertaining divisional clash. Unfortunately, the fact that it was even close is a damning reflection of the Steelers, regardless of the outcome. Fans shouldn't forget how poorly this team performed.

A Team That Can't Be Trusted

The Steelers' performance in this game was nothing short of baffling. Facing one of the worst defenses in the league—without star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson—the offense was out-gained 470 to 391 yards. This alone is shocking, especially considering the circumstances, but it was entirely self-inflicted.

Rodgers not only had two turnovers in the second quarter that cost the Steelers their early lead, but offensive coordinator Arthur Smith also seemed out of sync. The Steelers passed 32 times on the night while rushing only 20 times. This imbalance felt like poor strategy, especially given that the team averaged 7.4 yards per carry, just 0.2 yards less than their average per pass.

Defensively, the Steelers were equally lifeless. The unit that was supposed to be reliable, especially with the addition of Jalen Ramsey, was anything but. This performance came despite the defense having two weeks to prepare for Zac Taylor’s offense, and they managed only 18 points against the Packers the previous week.

There’s no excuse for how Tomlin and Smith coached this game. Their play-calling was self-defeating, and the defensive front failed to take advantage of a weak Bengals offensive line. Flacco had all night to throw, and the Steelers only managed two sacks on the night.

A Division That’s Not Worth Celebrating

Even after dropping to 4-2 following the loss to the Bengals, the Steelers still hold a commanding lead in the AFC North. They are 1.5 games ahead of Cincinnati and three games ahead of both the Browns and Ravens. While there’s still a lot of football left, the most likely outcome is that Pittsburgh will come out on top.

But what does that really mean? Winning a weak division doesn’t equate to success. It’s akin to winning the AFC South, where the prize is likely a home playoff loss in the Wild Card Round.

This team and season reflect the frustration many Steelers fans feel toward Tomlin. There are recognizable names and faces on the roster, but the pieces don’t quite fit together. It wouldn’t be surprising if there’s a power struggle between Smith and Rodgers, especially after what we saw on Thursday. This feels like a team built to keep Tomlin’s streak of not finishing below .500 alive, but with no real chance of a Super Bowl.

For a proud franchise like the Steelers, this should never be the goal—but it has been the reality for years. Rodgers is a new face at quarterback, and DK Metcalf and Ramsey are shiny additions, but the results haven’t changed. Any given week, the Steelers can win or lose just as easily, regardless of the competition.

A Fool’s Errand to Believe in the Steelers

Believing in the Steelers after what we saw on Thursday is a fool’s errand. They’ve proven that nothing has changed, especially regarding their ceiling—and possibly their floor. This isn’t a winning recipe, and it’s the same familiar story we’ve seen for years.

If you got sucked into believing in them with Rodgers and the flashes we’ve seen, it’s time to stop. The ending will be the same, and it won’t be anywhere near a Lombardi Trophy.