PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin, the veteran head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, is acutely aware of the team’s playoff history, particularly the reality that the franchise hasn’t secured a postseason victory in eight years. Tomlin believes that the responsibility for this drought rests primarily on his shoulders, rather than the players who will aim to change this trend during their upcoming game in Baltimore.
“(That’s) my story, not this collective’s story,” Tomlin expressed on Monday. “Many of these guys involved do not carry that burden. I willingly bear that weight. But I won’t impose it on the team.”
The Steelers, who finished the regular season with a 10-7 record, face a significant challenge as they head to M&T Bank Stadium, especially since they are coming off a disappointing four-game losing streak, including a heavy defeat against the Ravens (12-5) just before Christmas. Tomlin sought to maintain a positive outlook, reminding everyone that Monday marked the “trash bag” day for the 18 teams that failed to make the playoffs, while acknowledging that his squad is not among them for the 12th time in his 18-season tenure.
However, the Steelers have also fallen into a troubling pattern, failing to advance past the divisional round since 2016, marking the franchise’s longest playoff victory drought since the Super Bowl era, and currently holding the ninth-longest streak in the league. Previous playoff exits have consistently featured a pattern where the Steelers quickly find themselves trailing early, leaving them scrambling to recover. This trend has repeated itself in significant playoff games over the years.
Although Tomlin highlights that the challenges of one season do not inherently carry over into the next, the Steelers’ recent downturn mirrors their previous postseason mishaps. Throughout their current losing streak, Pittsburgh has struggled to gain early momentum, often falling behind by hefty margins before the game has truly begun.
When Tomlin was questioned about why the team finds it difficult to start strong, he admitted it was a complex issue, involving both the level of competition and the team’s shortcomings. “That’s a good question,” he acknowledged. “Some of it has had to do with the teams that we’ve played… but rest assured, we are working tirelessly to fix it. I’m eager to have another chance to show what we can do.”
The Steelers’ recent defeats have come against formidable playoff opponents, including Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Kansas City, as well as Cincinnati, which had a strong showing despite missing the playoffs. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, these matchups weren’t just losses; they often resulted in substantial defeats, with the team losing multiple games by at least 14 points. Despite a late push against Cincinnati that saw them come within two points, the struggle to sustain offensive momentum has posed an ongoing challenge.
Tomlin refrained from pointing out any specific weaknesses, emphasizing that the team continues to learn from its experiences over the past month. However, they face the added challenge of trying to regroup against a familiar rival led by a top MVP contender, Lamar Jackson, who recently dismantled the Steelers in a heated rivalry matchup.
Despite a slew of lopsided defeats, Tomlin maintains that the team’s confidence remains intact. “We’ve experienced too many battles and enjoyed too much success to feel fragile,” he noted. “While we can certainly criticize our recent performances, I don’t think it will affect how we see ourselves or our ability to secure victories.”
However, skepticism looms outside the Steelers’ locker room as their recent performances against elite teams have done little to instill confidence among pundits or oddsmakers, who have placed the Steelers as long shots to win the Super Bowl—a position reminiscent of last year when they were similarly outmatched in Buffalo.
To prevent another turbulent offseason filled with regrets, the Steelers must rekindle the momentum that propelled them to a 10-3 start. Backup quarterback Justin Fields played a crucial role during that initial success, contributing to a 4-2 start while Russell Wilson was sidelined. Tomlin has expressed openness to reintegrating Fields in specific plays in hopes of reigniting the spark that’s been missing, all while acknowledging the need for collective improvement rather than relying on one player.
“I’m not necessarily searching for comfort,” Tomlin stated candidly. “It’s crucial that we acknowledge our shortcomings and devise a concrete strategy to address them.”
