Three biggest takeaways from Steelers' Week 13 loss

When it rains, it pours. That's certainly how it felt for the Steelers, who fell to the Cardinals 24-10 on Sunday following two weather delays. Here are the three biggest takeaways from Pittsburgh's Week 13 loss.

Accountability

The Steelers' loss was far worse than the final score even shows as they scored a garbage-time touchdown late in the fourth quarter to make it a two-possession game. Pittsburgh was penalized nine times for 77 yards and head coach Mike Tomlin had one of his worst game-managing performances of his career.

The devastating loss to Arizona, which had just two wins before this week, has an argument to be one of the worst losses in the Tomlin era and he knows it.

"That was a horrible day at the office. We didn't do much right," Tomlin told reporters after the game. "We gotta own that. Obviously, it starts, first and foremost, with me."

Health in question

Pittsburgh entered the weekend with a mostly healthy team, but it witnessed several injuries to key players in the game. QB Kenny Pickett, guard Isaac Seumalo and LB Elandon Roberts all left the game with injuries and didn't return. That doesn't bode well on a short week as the Steelers host the Patriots on "Thursday Night Football."

"It's tough. Anytime you're challenged in the depth ... there's only so many reps to go around this time of year in practice," LB T.J. Watt said. "It's hard when you get depleted inside but it's not an excuse. We need to have guys step up."

Pickett has already been ruled out for "TNF" as he will have a surgical procedure on Monday on his injured ankle, which is expected to sideline him for two to four weeks. How much time Seumalo and Roberts could miss is still unknown.

Overpay?

The Steelers signed backup QB Mitchell Trubisky to a new three-year, $19.4M contract that could be worth up to $33M with incentives this offseason. Trubisky received the payday as the team had the belief that he was one of the better backups in the league. However, this loss puts that in question.

Trubisky didn't play terribly, completing 11-of-17 for 117 yards and a touchdown. But most of his production came late in the game when the Cardinals were playing light coverage to not allow any big plays. Some fans don't even want to see Trubisky on Thursday night, but Tomlin already shut that down.

"We'll roll with Mitch, if [Pickett] can't play," Tomlin stated.