What would normally have been a high-tension, edge-of-your-seat kind of day for fans in the Steel City turned into disappointment, but for all the wrong reasons. With the Pittsburgh Steelers going into Baltimore, beating them and taking back the division lead even with just a record of seven and six. They may have won on the field but in my opinion, they lost in the long run.
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Difficult Path to the Playoffs for Pittsburgh
The remaining schedule over the last couple of weeks starts with the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football. This matchup a few weeks ago would have been an easy win for the Steelers, however, the Dolphins have turned it on lately while the Steelers have been faltering the Dolphins have been rising.
After that is a midday matchup with the Detroit Lions, who, even though their win total is slightly lower than you would have expected, are still considered one of the better teams in the league and it will be a hard matchup for them. Ending the season are a pair of AFC North battles between the Browns, which should be a victory, and then a questionable season finale against the Ravens in a rematch of this past weekend’s game.
For all intents and purposes, I figure in true Steelers fashion they will probably go two and two down the stretch. Depending on who the wins and losses come against could determine if they back into the playoffs. With the possibilities ranging from an easy division title or potentially completely out of the playoffs completely depending on how the Ravens do down the stretch.
Divisional Opponents Determine Fate of Steelers
Had the Steelers lost to the Ravens this past weekend it would have given them a record of six at seven, which means they would have had to win at least three out of their last four games just to have a chance for the playoffs and the division. With the win, they are projected to of course… Finish right around 9-8 as is Tomlin’s MO.
So for the umpteenth season in a row, the Steelers will end somewhere around 9-8 or 10-7 and probably limp into the playoffs just to lose in the first round all over again. It’s like that classic, boring merry-go-round at the fair that your parents make you ride every year: there are ups and there are downs but ultimately at the end of the day, it just feels like you’re going around in one big circle of never-ending mediocrity.
Mike Tomlin’s Career Record
While Mike Tomlin holds a career record of 190-113-2 in the regular season and 8-11 record in the playoffs. However this lacks the context shown in the image above, since 2018 the Steelers have made the playoffs four times losing in the first round each time. During that stretch their winning percentage under Mike Tomlin went from a 65% win rate in the first portion of his time in the Steel City to a 57% win rate over the second half of his tenure. While the team has found some success over this stretch it is very clear they have stagnated.
Since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season it has been the revolving door at quarterback that has prevented them from finding consistency or wins in key moments, and Aaron Rodgers amounts to a band-aid on a bullet wound.
Time for a Change at the Top?
With all of this going on the rumblings from specifically the fan base have increased this season. Their displeasure with Mike Tomlin’s teams constantly being stuck in the middle of the pack has finally grown stale. In recent games, there have even been fans chanting Fire Tomlin, something that has never happened previously in the season.
No matter what the future holds for the Steelers, the result for me is clear. If they don’t change things soon, and by change things I mean Mike Tomlin as their head coach, the odds of the Steelers ever being on the doorstep of number seven seem forever away. Say it with me Steelers fans: #FireTomlin. If you enjoyed this article share or retweet it with the hashtag FireTomlin, let’s start a movement today.
While the Steelers are struggling to keep their relevancy in the Steel City, one football team is standing apart from the crowd for the Pittsburgh faithful. That is the Pittsburgh Outlaws who just won Back-to-Back Winter Indoor Football Championships. They will now compete in the AAL2 Spring season kicking off in April of 2026. Follow along by subscribing to Shady Sports Network Live Events where the Outlaws will have their games simulcast this season.
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