*** 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers: Huge week 13 game vs Bills (12 Viewers)

[Godsbrother]

Hopefully the Steelers string a few wins together so we don't have to hear any bellyaching about Tomlin for a while (altho that's no garuntee to stop it). I know that would be a total bummer for some of the Steelers "fans" around here. But I'm still glad when they succeed and hope they do.

I have been a supporter of Tomlin but my patience ran out last season. Simply put, the team has been treading water for a number of seasons now.

The playoff losses haven’t been all his fault but he certainly deserves his share of the blame and the “no losing seasons” defense has become damning evidence that he isn’t a bad coach but he isn’t a real good one either.

Going into this season I wasn’t expecting much and Tomlin has delivered. The offense lacks explosiveness and the defense has under achieved despite being among the highest paid units in the NFL.

The Steelers squandered an opportunity to lock up the division early with the horrible starts by the Ravens and Bengals but fumbled that away. That being said they control their own destiny so let’s see how he team does.

All of the games they have remaining on the schedule are winnable. If Tomlin can squeak out the title of a horrible AFC North division and win a playoff game I will be glad to eat crow.

 

[3C's]

The whataboutism is strong in here.

 

[Blick]

Their biggest problem is that they can’t draft.

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

All of you who are complaining about Tomlin, What do you think the record could reasonably be with this roster? They are average at best at QB and one of the worst WR rooms in the league. You are not going to be an elite team with those 2 issues.

You are all going nuts over a close loss on the road to a first place team when we were starting a backup QB. The Steelers have 2 of the most impressive wins in the league this year and are in first place.

The Steelers issues are simple Rooney meddles and they haven't had an elite QB in 8 years. Neither has anything to do with Tomlin.

Disagree. The Steelers biggest problem is that Tomlin has a terrible eye for identifying top talent at OC and DC or his ego won't allow him to make a higher profile hire at those spots. I personally believe that's why he let Flores go to promote Austin. In 18 years, he has ZERO coaching tree. That speaks volumes. Its entirely about him and his antiquated vision of how to win.

They have enough talent to overcome Tomlin's terrible decisions at OC and DC, but not enough to compete when it matters. The problem is that's exactly what the Steelers have become and they've shown no willingness to adjust.

This isn't about any one win or loss. And if they back into a division win with another 9 or 10 win season, its because they have the talent to win 9 or 10 games. And they do. Its not some miracle here.

Ben was still good in 2018 and 2020. He didnt fall off until 2021. Yet Tomlin's teams won only 3 playoff games (all against backup QBs) between 2011 and 2020.

Coordinators are clearly one of the main areas Rooney meddles in. He has certainly dictated OC's before.

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

Their biggest problem is that they can’t draft.

They have had a huge draft strategy switch since Kahn took over. I have liked their drafts under Kahn.

 

[Godsbrother]

Their biggest problem is that they can’t draft.

They have had a huge draft strategy switch since Kahn took over. I have liked their drafts under Kahn.

Me too

 

[Blick]

Their biggest problem is that they can’t draft.

They have had a huge draft strategy switch since Kahn took over. I have liked their drafts under Kahn.

Me too

Maybe. But the fact remains that players with high draft capital have not usually made it to a second contract with this team.

 

[cdclopper]

Their biggest problem is that they can’t draft.

They have had a huge draft strategy switch since Kahn took over. I have liked their drafts under Kahn.

It would be nice to have Dart having a red shirt year right now ready to go for next season. A big problem with Tomlin's not losing streak is always drafting out of the range of getting a great quarterback prospect. Looks like they missed a chance at it.

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

Their biggest problem is that they can’t draft.

They have had a huge draft strategy switch since Kahn took over. I have liked their drafts under Kahn.

Me too

Maybe. But the fact remains that players with high draft capital have not usually made it to a second contract with this team.

And the person who drafted all of them is gone.

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

Their biggest problem is that they can’t draft.

They have had a huge draft strategy switch since Kahn took over. I have liked their drafts under Kahn.

It would be nice to have Dart having a red shirt year right now ready to go for next season. A big problem with Tomlin's not losing streak is always drafting out of the range of getting a great quarterback prospect. Looks like they missed a chance at it.

This is a problem, but a Rooney made one.

 

[Blick]

Their biggest problem is that they can’t draft.

They have had a huge draft strategy switch since Kahn took over. I have liked their drafts under Kahn.

Me too

Maybe. But the fact remains that players with high draft capital have not usually made it to a second contract with this team.

And the person who drafted all of them is gone.

My point is that it’s not just Tomlin that has let them down.

 

[Max55]

Their biggest problem is that they can’t draft.

And seems to be “a lot” of swings and misses on aging free agents past their prime.

 

[menobrown]

Their biggest problem is that they can’t draft.

They have had a huge draft strategy switch since Kahn took over. I have liked their drafts under Kahn.

Me too

Me three.

I've liked the process a little more then the results under Khan but overall would give him high marks.

Also love the aggressive player acquisition mode under Khan.

I'm trying not to beat a dead horse to death and keep bringing this up but I could not have been more vocally against the Pickens trade and whoever bears the brunt of responsibility over that blew what little chance this team had of being a legit competitive team. I would have the most incredibly difficult time thinking Kahn had the power to carry out the decision more then thinking he was following a directive.

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

Their biggest problem is that they can’t draft.

They have had a huge draft strategy switch since Kahn took over. I have liked their drafts under Kahn.

Me too

Me three.

I've liked the process a little more then the results under Khan but overall would give him high marks.

Also love the aggressive player acquisition mode under Khan.

I'm trying not to beat a dead horse to death and keep bringing this up but I could not have been more vocally against the Pickens trade and whoever bears the brunt of responsibility over that blew what little chance this team had of being a legit competitive team. I would have the most incredibly difficult time thinking Kahn had the power to carry out the decision more then thinking he was following a directive.

This is a very good post. It isn't about Kahn's results. In a small sample it could easily be lots of picks that end up busts. Some picks bust, that is drafting, but the process now is clearly much better. I do not think there is a chance Kahn would have drafted Harris or trade up for Bush.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

I do not think there is a chance Kahn would have drafted Harris or trade up for Bush.

Agree.

Omar has always been an analytics/money guy first. Id wager there would have been almost no way he'd have done either of those things, particularly Naj, without being forced.

 

[LawFitz]

Looking ahead at D's for next week and pickings are slim. Kinda eyeing PIT on the road against a gimpy Lamar & co. What do you guys think about how the Steelers D has been playing lately and how they match up against the Ravens O?

 

[Godsbrother]

The Steelers defense is about pressures and turnovers. In that regard they have been kinda up and down this season.

 

[cdclopper]

Looking ahead at D's for next week and pickings are slim. Kinda eyeing PIT on the road against a gimpy Lamar & co. What do you guys think about how the Steelers D has been playing lately and how they match up against the Ravens O?

Like godsbrother said their defensive strat goes after splash plays, sacks and turnovers. Kind of exactly what you want in a fantasy defense.

 

[Cookiemonster]

This team is depressing. Even if they manage to sweep the Ravens, I doubt I’ll manage to build any enthusiasm.

 

[3C's]

Poor effort all around, and as Tony said going heavy on 4th and 3 and choosing to run the ball is "not smart". Guess they don't have an rpo option with an aging hobbled QB but come up with something that involves play action. Can't move the ball against a fairly pedestrian defense, and can't stop a running stack with backup linemen.

Never want them to lose but they're going nowhere so tank for the draft is where I'm at.

 

[belljr]

I predict they lose the next 3.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

I said it in the game thread and I will repeat it here...

They are just not a very good football team at the moment. Their last 17 games,not including playoffs (which was also horrible), they are 6-11 with a pile of head-shakingly bad losses due in large part to being wedded to outdated schemes/attitudes on game day.

Add in injuries,etc on top of that...and here they are.

 

[infantsam]

Tomlin looking clearly defeated on the sidelines.

I would not suspect Rogers wants any more of this next year……hopefully.

 

[timschochet]

Unlike so many Steelers fans these days I’ve always loved Mike Tomlin. Still do. But they’re not getting it done, and who can deny how poorly it’s going. That game was just awful today. I won’t be upset if they make a change after the season ends.

 

[fred_1_15301]

Unlike so many Steelers fans these days I’ve always loved Mike Tomlin. Still do. But they’re not getting it done, and who can deny how poorly it’s going. That game was just awful today. I won’t be upset if they make a change after the season ends.

Tim - nobody ever said anything about not “liking” Mike Tomlin. From all accounts his players love to play for him. But he’s been an overrated coach for quite a while now. The team isn’t going anywhere with him and his coaching philosophy at the helm.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

I would not suspect Rogers wants any more of this next year……hopefully.

Whether he does/doesnt shouldnt matter. They need to move on. He's looked like a smacked a$$ since the first Cincy game.

Given Mike's recent proclivities...theyll be firing it up with Flacco in '26 tho

 

[McBokonon]

Tomlin has lost tim and they booed renegade. It’s over.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Tomlin has lost tim and they booed renegade. It’s over.

End of an era.

 

[Steelers4Life]

The fan base is finally starting to catch up to where a lot of us have been on Tomlin for years now.

How many guys would still have a job if they only have 4 seasons out of 19 with a playoff win? Or 8+ years without a playoff win? Or 3 playoff wins in 15 years?

Ownership has been comfortable because the national media loves him and enough of the fan base supports him that 8, 9, or 10 wins has been enough. Now the national media has started picking up on it and the fans are getting more and more tired of the lack of discipline, declining performance, and lack of adjustments. It's been this way since 2011 after his run with Cowher's team, not just since Ben retired. The goodwill built from 2007 to 2010 is finally starting to wear out.

Losing 3 or 4 of the next 5 would finally start to put some real pressure on the team to change.

 

[HellToupee]

@irish eyes was right about everything . I apologize

 

[3C's]

Unlike so many Steelers fans these days I’ve always loved Mike Tomlin. Still do. But they’re not getting it done, and who can deny how poorly it’s going. That game was just awful today. I won’t be upset if they make a change after the season ends.

Well I certainly never "loved" him cuz that would be kinda weird, but he's a Tribe alum so I wanted him to do well. His message has gone stale though, I'm tired of Tomlinisms, and would prefer he move on to the next chapter in his life, whatever that might be.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

I'm tired of Tomlinisms

Tuesday should be this week, fo' sho'.

It'll be interesting to hear what direct, uncomy questions folks like Carter, or Benz, or Pryor ask him that he'll refuse to answer,if nothing else.

 

[Dizzy]

6-6 right on par w/ pre-season expectations. Still a mid-pack roster w/ an ancient QB and a defense that (apparently) gets paid based on NFL "experience"

Who knew AFC North would be the weakest division in the NFL? CIN gonna run the table and win this hot mess.

Tomlin's going? OK, GM better be right behind him. Maybe a new ownership group would help too.