I stared at my computer for ten straight minutes before I began typing. I didn’t know how to properly express my disappointment in what I saw today.
But then I realized, that I shouldn’t have been disappointed. Because this is exactly what I expected.
Truth be told, I didn’t even need to wait for the game to be over to write this one. I used both of the rain delays to get a head start.
Unfortunately, I am 2 for 2 in what I called trap games this year. Back in Week 4, I thought the Steelers would overlook the Houston Texans and lose that game. In hindsight, I was half right; Pittsburgh would lose, but Houston is a much better team than we all thought they were back in Week 4.
However, this game against the Arizona Cardinals was the tried and true definition of a trap game, or for Pittsburgh, a Tomlin game.
People equate the phrase “Tomlin game” with a dislike for the coach. So, let me start first by saying that I am a Mike Tomlin fan. I always have been, and I have tremendous respect for what he has done over his coaching career. That being said, just because you are a fan of someone (or a team) does not mean you can never criticize them.
One of Tomlin’s biggest issues has become so large that it’s named after him. The Steelers play a “Tomlin game” almost every season, a game that they should very easily win, but somehow find a way to lose.
This year, that game is featured at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. The Steelers lose by a final score of 24-10 to the Cardinals, who were 2-10 coming into this game.
By Week 13 of any NFL season, you have a good understanding of who is good and who is not. The Cardinals are not a good team this year.
Yes, Kyler Murray has only played a handful of games, and his return does make Arizona a better offense. However, with all of their injuries on defense, the Murray addition at best offsets the injuries.
And yet, Murray and his merry men come into town and soundly beat the Steelers. Through two rain delays and over four hours at the arena, the Cardinals show up the Steelers and embarrass them.
Pittsburgh’s only drive where they looked competent was their first one. Kenny Pickett threw a dime to George Pickens for a massive gain, and this is what fans had hoped to watch all day.
But in actuality, this drive was a precursor for how today would go, just not in the way we thought.
The Steelers stall in the red zone, and have to settle for a field goal. Little did we know, that would be the only points they scored all game.
Pittsburgh lacked any kind of killer instinct in this game. They could not score a touchdown in the red zone, whether it was that drive, or the 4th and goal play that they ran from the shotgun.
They allowed the Cardinals to stick around in this game, and when you allow a team like that to hang around, they will sooner or later take advantage.
And they did.
The Cardinals tie it up at 3 after the first quarter, and execute a beautiful 99-yard touchdown drive right before the half ends to take a 10-3 lead.
That drive came after the Steelers marched down the field and got to the 1-yard line. This is where the 4th and goal play happened, and Najee Harris gets buried in a goal line stand from the Cardinals.
Kenny Pickett was injured one play before that, and was ruled out for the game. That loss hurts, but let’s not pretend that Pickett going down is the reason they lost this game.
Trubisky fails to impress, except for a nice pass to Pickens, and the Steelers’ offense collapses.
I don’t have many more words on this loss…I really don’t.
Sadly, this is about what I thought would happen. I didn’t think it would be this bad, but I did think this could happen.
National pundits and people who don’t watch the Steelers week in and week out (either because they can’t or don’t) expose themselves when they say that games like these should be blowout wins for Pittsburgh.
Any fan who has watched this team long enough knows that the Steelers can lose to anyone on any given week. And any fan who has watched this team long enough knows that we get one of these types of games almost every year…at least one.
Tomlin’s teams are routinely underprepared to face inferior opponents, and that was clear as day today (even if the skies today weren’t).
People will equate that as hate for Tomlin or wanting him fired, which I have actively denied in this piece. But anybody who says that how he prepares his team for games like these isn’t seriously flawed just simply isn’t paying attention.
This definitely makes the top ten of worst Steelers games I’ve watched. Where exactly in that ten, I’m not sure, but there’s no way it isn’t in there.
I was embarrassed to be wearing a Steelers jersey today.
More thoughts down below:
-Super happy for James Conner. To come here and dominate in his homecoming game to Pittsburgh, just super happy for him. The running back had 104 yards on the ground.
-My heart goes out to any fan who was at that game. I felt like I was slowly watching 60,000 people stop being Steelers fans.
-Can anyone remember the last time we saw two different rain delays in the same game? Honestly I’m just trying not to think about the final score anymore
-Diontae Johnson has some enemies in this town. He probably only further enraged them when he danced in the endzone down two scores with under five minutes left to play.
-That 4th and goal play call oddly reminded me of the 4th and 1 back in Houston. Both times the team lines up in shotgun, the worst possible option on a situation like that.
-There should be serious concern on the injury front for Pittsburgh. Kenny Pickett and Elandon Roberts left the game and did not return, and TJ Watt was in and out late. Three of this team’s most important players are in jeopardy for Thursday night.
-WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE HAVE TO PLAY AGAIN ON THURSDAY?
–Odd stat of the game: That was Arizona’s first win on the road since Week 10 of last season. Pitiful.
(Featured photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Fifth Avenue Sports 
Leave a comment