Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers began the season nicely and had been 10-3 after Week 14. They had been in pole place to win the AFC North and had a shot at ending with the very best report within the convention.
Nonetheless, they misplaced 4 straight video games and completed the season 10-7. The Steelers missed out on the division title and can now journey to Baltimore to face the Baltimore Ravens within the Wild Card Spherical.
Kurt Warner just lately mentioned the Steelers’ issues and prompt what Tomlin’s staff ought to deal with to get leads to the postseason.
Kurt Warner Breaks Down Steelers’ Issues on Offense
In a current phase on “The Wealthy Eisen Present,” Warner mentioned how Russell Wilson’s deal with huge performs and checkdowns helped the staff earlier within the season. As soon as the massive performs had been taken out of the sport on account of George Pickens’ missed time, the Steelers’ offense began to battle.
The 2-time NFL MVP additionally highlighted that it’s robust for Wilson to select aside opposing defenses together with his passing, so he has to depend on making huge performs with the assistance of Pickens.
“They [Steelers] performed Cincinnati earlier within the 12 months and scored 44 factors, and also you noticed Russell Wilson getting huge play after huge play after huge play,” Warner mentioned. “However that was actually the one sport that I’ve seen the place they’ve actually been capable of set up, you understand, a constant passing sport all 12 months lengthy. And lots of them, once more, had been huge performs.”
“It wasn’t about, you understand, Russell Wilson dissecting one other staff,” added Warner. “So, that, to me, goes to be paramount in opposition to Baltimore.”
The Corridor of Famer additional suggested groups taking part in in opposition to the Steelers, saying, “Don’t quit the massive play; drive the Steelers to work the sphere. Pressure Russell Wilson to make play after play, learn after learn, proper choice after proper choice, to beat you. As a result of, you understand, they only haven’t carried out it very nicely.”
Through the Steelers’ four-game dropping streak, the staff’s offense has averaged simply 14.25 factors per sport. Wilson has thrown for 698 yards, 4 touchdowns, and two interceptions, finishing 63.6 of his throws with a passer score of 81.3.
On this span, he has averaged 174.5 passing yards per sport, which is way lower than his common of 254.9 passing yards per sport and a passer score of 103.9 he had within the first 9 video games of the season. Since Week 15, Wilson hasn’t thrown a landing on a move touring 15 or extra air yards, regardless of having seven deep-ball touchdowns in his first seven begins.
In Week 18, Wilson grades at 70.2 (C-), the ninth-best of his 11 video games this season, in line with PFN’s QB+ metric. He’ll possible must carry out higher within the playoffs if the Steelers need to take down the AFC North-champion Ravens
Pickens will play within the playoffs, however he didn’t look good in Week 18’s loss in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers’ offensive success depends on his efforts, and it will likely be intriguing to see how he approaches the sport in opposition to the Ravens.
Mike Tomlin Hasn’t Gained a Playoff Sport in 8 Years
Tomlin is usually regarded among the many finest head coaches within the league, and he has been with the Steelers because the 2007 NFL season. He received a Tremendous Bowl however is 8-10 within the playoffs in his profession.
The Steelers haven’t received a playoff sport since 2017, and Tomlin desperately wants a win within the postseason this 12 months. Pittsburgh has made the playoffs in three of the final 4 seasons, however their followers won’t be completely happy except they win a sport when it issues probably the most.
Tomlin and Wilson have an opportunity to drag off an enormous upset in opposition to the Ravens on Saturday. Baltimore is seen as a authentic Tremendous Bowl contender, and if the Steelers knock them out within the Wild Card Spherical, it would do rather a lot for the repute of the quarterback and the top coach.
Wilson is taking part in for a contract, and if he doesn’t carry out nicely in opposition to the Ravens, Steelers followers could be against the concept of the staff retaining him on the roster. Ending the season on a five-game dropping streak might be catastrophic for the Steelers, so Tomlin has to give you a sport plan to ensure his staff comes out on prime in opposition to Lamar Jackson and John Harbaugh.
