The Steelers Hit Rock Bottom Against the Colts
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts (50) works to bring down Indianapolis Colts running back Trey Sermon (27) on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
On a day when the Pittsburgh Steelers needed to bounce back from two consecutive embarrassing performances, they doubled down and laid another egg against the Indianapolis Colts.
For the third week in a row, the team from the Steel City were dominated in all phases of the game — at one point, anyway. After jumping out to a 13-0 lead that was caused largely by Indianapolis’ mistakes, Pittsburgh completely fell apart and never showed the kind of fight the world has come to expect from a Mike Tomlin-coached team.
Still sitting in the sixth seed in the playoff race, Pittsburgh had an opportunity to change the unflattering narrative they had laid out for themselves over the last few weeks. Unfortunately, they reverted back to the lackluster play that plagued them against the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots.
At this point, it’s not a stretch to imply that Tomlin has lost the team. After 30 unanswered points and being physically manhandled for three-straight weeks, If this isn’t Pittsburgh’s rock bottom, I’d sure hate to see what is.
The Offense Sputters
Mitch Trubisky played poorly again. Another two-interception day led to him being benched late in the game. He continued to miss throws and fail to make the correct reads when guys were open. The signal caller out of North Carolina just simply isn’t starter material at this point in his career, and it again showed.
The Mitch Trubisky interception that sealed his fate against the #Colts. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/X2eBtmlwUW
— Rob Gregson (@NFL_Rob) December 17, 2023
This was far from a one-man meltdown. The offensive line has reverted back to the miserable group that has been the issue for the last three seasons. Zero push at the point of attack in the run game made it almost impossible to run the ball. The pass protection was even worse. This was by far the worst game of rookie tackle Broderick Jones‘ career. It was an embarrassing performance to say the least by a group that had started to coalesce and show promise midway through the season.
Compiling 216 total yards is not becoming of a playoff team, especially when Indianapolis had the 26th-best rushing defense coming into the game. The Steelers just couldn’t get going. A sheer lack of execution, along with another bad game plan, led to an offensive disaster.
Defense Was Humiliated
One drive summed up the defensive performance against Indianapolis. It was a 14-play drive that took up 8:57. The Colts ran the ball right down the throat of the Steelers 13 times in a row with very little resistance. That was the definition of making a team quit.
Injuries stung the Steelers. Quite frankly, they were playing some guys who more than likely should never be on an NFL field. Nonetheless, Pittsburgh didn’t stop, contain, or even slow down anything the Colts wanted to do on offense.
The linebacker position is in real turmoil. The run fits were nonexistent. The tackling in space from backup safeties was beyond miserable. The middle of the field was wide open the entire game. Indianapolis had receivers and tight ends running free from the first snap of the game. It was an overall-humbling performance.
Coaching Has To Change
Tomlin sounded like a defeated coach in his post-game press conference. He also didn’t have any answers to why Pittsburgh is playing losing football.
Mike Tomlin’s postgame interview. #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/L644MSKBhz
— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) December 17, 2023
From a personnel standpoint, the Steelers are beat up. Injuries have decimated them on the defensive side of the ball. So while Tomlin says he is going to do things differently, if the guys aren’t capable of making the plays, what is going to change?
George Pickens‘ effort again has to be questioned. This is becoming an ongoing theme.
#Steelers WR George Pickens shows ZERO effort in trying to block a #Colts defender with his teammate running full speed at them
😳😳😳
pic.twitter.com/LOJYlWndoN— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) December 16, 2023
The Colts punched the Steelers in the mouth, and Pittsburgh completely folded. It’s time to start holding people accountable — more people than just Matt Canada — because what they are doing clearly isn’t working.
Attitudes must change if they are going to salvage the season, which is looking increasingly unlikely. This ship is sinking, and the performance in Indianapolis didn’t do anything to change the minds of any pessimistic Steelers fan paying attention.
Up Next