Analyst thinks Steelers' decision could cost them the playoffs

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the 2023-24 NFL campaign with a mixture of optimism and uncertainty. Despite being outgained in several games, they managed to consistently win and stood at 7-4 during the middle of the season, leaving Steeler Nation pondering their potential with a favorable schedule on the horizon. However, a series of decisions – culminating in a questionable quarterback call – have left the team's playoff hopes hanging in the balance.

The Steelers' nightmare In Acrisure Stadium

The Steelers' woes began when they hosted the Arizona Cardinals at Acrisure Stadium in Week 13. Kenny Pickett started the game strongly, but the offense faltered in the red zone. Pickett's promising start turned into a nightmare when he suffered an injury. In came Mitch Trubisky, who finished the game with 117 passing yards, one touchdown and a disheartening home loss to one of the worst teams in the league at that time.

The next challenge for the Steelers was their game against the New England Patriots, an opportunity to redeem themselves after one of their most humiliating losses in recent memory. Trubisky's performance once again fell short of expectations. He passed for 190 yards, one touchdown and an interception, leaving Steelers fans clamoring for a chance to see what Mason Rudolph could bring to the table.

Steelers fans, eager to witness Rudolph's return to action after an extended hiatus since 2021, urged Head Coach Mike Tomlin to make the change. Tomlin and the Steelers organization, however, remained steadfast in their decision to start Trubisky once more, this time against the Indianapolis Colts – a game with massive playoff implications. The result was all too familiar, another gut-wrenching loss.

It was only after three consecutive disappointing outings that Tomlin finally gave Rudolph a chance. The quarterback has thrived, leading the Steelers' offense to back-to-back games with 30 or more points and two crucial victories. The question that arose, as pointed out by NFL analyst Ted Nguyen of The Athletic, was why Trubisky had been chosen as the backup over Rudolph. Nguyen credited Tomlin and the Steelers with one of the worst coaching decisions of Week 17, even though they defeated the Seattle Seahawks. 

“This isn’t a gripe from a Week 17 decision, but based on how good Mason Rudolph looked the past two weeks, the question has to be asked: How did Mitchell Trubisky beat out Rudolph for the backup job? In the seven games that Trubisky started last season," Nguyen wrote, "he threw four touchdowns to five interceptions and averaged seven yards an attempt. Despite his lack of production, the Steelers chose to sign him through 2025.”

Tomlin and the Steelers seemed to be reluctant to make the change at quarterback simply because of how much money they were paying Trubisky. It appeared as if the organization made a mistake and was trying to prove it to be the right decision – even though everyone knew it was an awful decision. Trubisky holds a horrible 2-5 record as a starting quarterback for the Steelers

“This might be more of an organizational failure to commit to Trubisky, who didn’t earn it, as their backup rather than open the role to competition," Nguyen continued. "If Rudolph was the starter sooner, the Steelers might have had a better chance of avoiding a two-game skid and be in a better position for a playoff berth. Currently, they are on the outside looking in.”

Steelers fans can't help but wonder how different their situation would be in Week 18 against the Baltimore Ravens if Rudolph had been given the nod sooner. The organization's unwavering commitment to Trubisky, without considering the possibility of competition, could prove to be the reason they miss out on the playoffs. 

To secure a postseason berth, they must defeat the Ravens and hope for some external assistance from the Tennessee Titans or the Miami Dolphins. They also have a couple of other playoff scenarios that could get them in. The most realistic options start with a victory and the Titans or Dolphins winning. In the end, it's a tale of missed opportunities and questionable decisions, leaving the Steelers and their faithful fan base to ponder what might have been.