Despite it being a winnable matchup on paper, the Steelers turned up empty last Sunday against the Colts. On paper, Pittsburgh matched up well here, but in practice, they struggled, specifically early in the game. As things got more desperate the offense and defense opened up which allowed a comeback to almost materialize.
While there were other factors at play, coaching has to take the front seat this week as one of the core reasons for their loss. The defense, one of the best in the league, couldn’t stop a nosebleed at first. The offense was even worse, as their script was once again so reserved and easily countered by the Colts that they couldn’t move the ball. I had visions back to the worst of 2023 early in the game, as it was that bad.
While the Steelers have a lot of new looks this year, they still have a frustrating holdover that is becoming a staple of Mike Tomlin’s tenure: this team can’t adjust on the fly. Even when plans are falling flat, this team will try to run through the brick wall instead of around it…