Steelers' Mike Tomlin, others speak bluntly about loss to Chiefs

The Pittsburgh Steelers were largely unimpressive as they suffered a 29-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day. 

Following that defeat, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin didn't hide his feelings while speaking about what's become a three-game losing streak. 

"That sucked, to be blunt," Tomlin said during his post-game media availability, per Brooke Pryor of ESPN. "Not the type of ball we want to play and really kind of eerily similar to our last performance in that we're not doing the fundamental things well enough."

Pittsburgh's loss coupled with the Baltimore Ravens' 31-2 win over the Houston Texans left the 10-6 Steelers trailing the Ravens by a single game in the AFC North standings. To claim the division title, Pittsburgh will have to beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18 and have the Ravens fall to the lowly Cleveland Browns (3-12).

Such outcomes seem unlikely, and Pryor pointed out that Pittsburgh's offense has turned the ball over five times during the team's skid. Additionally, the Steelers defense performed like a unit not ready for postseason action in losses to the Chiefs, Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles.

"Guys can't be f------ wide open," Pittsburgh safety DeShon Elliott said after Wednesday's result. "Do your job. I feel like we communicated. Guys just weren't doing their freaking job. Get back to the drawing board. It's Week [17]. Shouldn't be having these problems. ...This is a Week 1, Week 2 problem. So I don't know where we went, down the line started becoming a whole different defense [than] we were, but we got to get back to who we are."

The good news for Elliott and Co. is that the Steelers have clinched a playoff berth. With that said, it now looks like they will begin their postseason journey with a road game rather than with a contest held at Acrisure Stadium.

"The last three weeks we played like s---," Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward said after Wednesday's loss. "Simple as that. I own that. Every player's got [to own that]. Can't squander opportunities, whether it's turnovers, whether it's getting off the field, whether it's scoring touchdowns, it's a multitude of things, and it has reared its big head."

Heyward added that his confidence "is never going to lack in the group." That's all well and good but won't change the fact that Pittsburgh no longer controls its destiny regarding the race for the division title.