The Pittsburgh Steelers' once-promising playoff hopes have taken a significant hit, with the team now standing at 7-7 after a three-game losing streak in December. What initially appeared to be a smooth path to the playoffs has turned into a challenging journey, making the postseason a far-fetched fantasy and not reality.
Steelers Start Off Scorching Hot Versus Colts
The Steelers began the game with great momentum, launching a 12-play, 54-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown. However, kicker Chris Boswell's missed extra point off the goalpost dampened their early success. Things took an exciting turn when Connor Heyward blocked a punt, and Nick Herbig recovered the ball, setting up the Steelers for a great chance to punch in a touchdown. The Steelers did just that and were up 13-0 early and in control of the game.
Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, the game's momentum shifted rapidly, and the Indianapolis Colts managed to score 30 unanswered points, leaving the Steelers scoreless for the rest of the game. In a puzzling move that has come under intense scrutiny, Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin chose to have Pressley Harvin III punt the football when the team was down 24-13 with just three minutes left in the third quarter.
The choice to punt in this critical moment raised numerous questions, primarily due to the sidelining of Boswell, one of the NFL's premier and most dependable kickers, renowned for his proficiency in converting long-range field goals. In this situation, the Steelers were in dire need of both points and a momentum shift. Nevertheless, Tomlin opted to place his trust in a beleaguered and exhausted defense, a decision that left many scratching their heads.
Boswell boasts an impressive track record, having successfully converted 29 of his 35 field goal attempts from distances of 50 yards or more. In contrast, Harvin's punt in this crucial moment of the game only covered 22 yards, further compounding his struggles in the 2023 season. During his postgame press conference after the loss to the Colts, Tomlin attempted to shed light on his choice to punt instead of allowing Boswell to attempt a 57-yard field goal.
“Not a lot had gone our way today in that junction that made me feel good about banging a 57-yard field goal. Particularly, on that down before I thought we might take a shot or check it down and we end up throwing the ball out of bounds and so I didn’t like that field positioning.”
Tomlin appears to suggest that his primary rationale for not allowing Boswell to attempt the field goal was his expectation that Mitch Trubisky might either execute a check-down pass or advance the Steelers' position closer to a more feasible field goal range. However, things didn't go as planned, as Trubisky threw the ball out of bounds, leaving the Steelers in a predicament that Tomlin found unfavorable.
Rich Eisen, who was calling the game on NFL Network, expressed his astonishment at Tomlin's decision to punt instead of giving Boswell a chance to score from long range. Eisen brought up the issue during the broadcast, discussing it with his co-host Kurt Warner.
"Kurt, I mean, just gotta bring this up. You don't want Boswell to kick one from 50-something yards. Instead, you're going to punt? Down 11 with 18 minutes and change to go."
The loss to the Colts has deepened the Steelers' struggles and dimmed their playoff hopes considerably. It all began with a defeat to the Arizona Cardinals, followed by a disappointing outing against the New England Patriots. Now, this latest setback appears to have dealt a severe blow to the Steelers' chances of securing a postseason berth, leaving them in a precarious situation as the season progresses.
The path forward for the Steelers remains uncertain. However, the pressure on Tomlin has undeniably intensified. Losing crucial games in December, let alone three consecutive ones, is unacceptable. Change is needed in Pittsburgh, whether or not it involves Tomlin. The reality is that he is unlikely to depart, and there was a glimmer of hope before Saturday's kickoff when news broke that Kenny Pickett's recovery was ahead of schedule, and he is optimistic about his chances of playing against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
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