Takeaways From The Steelers’ Embarrassing Loss In Week 17

The Steelers came out of the gate slowly in Week 17. It was apparent on the first drive of the game that they were going to lose that game. Even though he slowed down as the game went on, Shedeur Sanders was slicing Pittsburgh up in the first quarter, and it led to 10 points for Cleveland. Pittsburgh’s defense got it together after that, but the offense remained dormant for the rest of the day. 

4. No Separation

Pittsburgh missed D.K. Metcalf in Week 17. Their ragtag group of receivers wasn’t enough to get the job done. Aaron Rodgers wasn’t perfect, but nobody was getting open. It’s a bunch of old receivers that can’t separate. The lack of a competent WR2 is glaring more than ever. Allen Lazard is still out there, and he might be needed for Week 18 to save the season, and that is sad. Regardless of personnel, scoring six points against the Browns is embarrassing. 

3. The Streak Continues

Mike Tomlin can’t find a way to win in Cleveland anymore. The last Steelers quarterback to win at Huntington Bank Field was Ben Roethlisberger. He hasn’t been on the team since 2021. The Browns entered the game with three wins, and Pittsburgh couldn’t find a way. Cleveland has won four consecutive home games against them. That bus ride home had to be miserable for the members of the Steelers. 

2. Poor Officiating 

It’s a tough look to blame officiating after scoring six points on a three-win team, but some of those calls and no calls were egregious. The full body weight penalty on Cam Heyward was garbage. They called a false start on #52 in Pittsburgh. Nobody wears that number on the current team. Marquez Valdes-Scantling got assaulted by Denzel Ward on the final play of the game, and he never turned to find the ball. The Steelers should have been better, but the NFL got exactly what it wanted.  

1. Week 18 Is For All The Marbles

Now that the Green Bay Packers couldn’t come through for them and Pittsburgh squandered their golden opportunity, it all comes down to Week 18. This is what Roger Goodell and the NFL wanted, and they got it. A Week 18 showdown that will likely get flexed to primetime with a division title and a playoff spot on the line at Acrisure Stadium. It’s a loser-leaves-town match, and if the Steelers season ends at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens again, it’s going to get ugly this offseason. 

End Of My Steelers Rant

Mike Tomlin and his team better bring it next week. It could be Aaron Rodgers’ final NFL game. It’s time to pull out all the stops. Leave everything on the field, because the sun might not come up the next day if they don’t. Losing to the Browns should have been something that Steelers fans saw from a mile away. They never make things easy on themselves. They let the Browns win their Super Bowl. T.J. Watt could return next week, and he will need to be a monster.