Lost Hope: Making changes in the final week can be challenging, but a few adjustments could help the Steelers break their…
A third consecutive loss weighed heavily on Mike Tomlin’s mind when he promised changes for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they prepared for the season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals.
“We’re not going to keep doing the same things and hope for a different outcome,” Tomlin said shortly after a Christmas Day loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. “That doesn’t seem sharp to me. We’re going to take a hard look at this.”
Tomlin gathered his players at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Thursday for meetings and film reviews, then gave them the weekend to rest before what’s expected to be a bonus practice day on Monday. The Bengals await next weekend, with the postseason just around the corner.
The changes Tomlin will consider can’t be drastic. The playbook was built over the course of an entire offseason and implemented in the spring and summer, so it can’t be overhauled in a week. The roster is largely set, with perhaps a few adjustments in the lineup. The return of cornerback Joey Porter Jr. could help stabilize a struggling secondary.
Outside linebacker T.J. Watt, speaking to the media after the Steelers’ 29-10 loss to Kansas City (which followed defeats to Baltimore and Philadelphia), didn’t foresee any drastic changes.
“We need to continue to work,” Watt said, reiterating the sentiment multiple times. “Look ourselves in the mirror and get back to work.”
With that mindset, here are several areas the Steelers can focus on as they look to build on a 10-6 record that has already secured them a wild-card playoff spot:
1. Start Faster
Arthur Smith is searching for a faster, more efficient offense. The Steelers need to find that same urgency, particularly in the opening moments of the game.
The final regular-season game would be an ideal time for the offense to score a touchdown on its opening possession for the first time this season, or at least get into the end zone within the first 15 minutes—a feat the Steelers have accomplished only three times in 16 games.
This quick-start mentality should extend to the defense, too. During their three-game losing streak, the Steelers have been outscored 30-3 in the first quarter. They haven’t held a lead entering the second quarter since they were ahead 3-0 against Baltimore in Week 11.
2. Generate a Pass Rush
The Steelers don’t need to resurrect the Blitzburgh defense of the 2000s, but they do need to ramp up their pass rush, which has been inconsistent all season.
A unit led by Watt and Cameron Heyward is no longer among the league leaders in sacks, a trend that’s persisted for years. So far, the Steelers have managed just 36 sacks, averaging barely over two per game.
Watt leads the team with 11.5 sacks, but he’s been shut out in the last two games and has only recorded one sack in the past four games and four in the last six. Alex Highsmith has six sacks despite playing in just 10 games. Meanwhile, the defensive line, outside of Heyward, has failed to generate consistent pressure or collapse the pocket.
The Steelers have blitzed 24.4% of the time, which ranks 14th in the NFL, but that’s a 10% drop from last season. They’re also near the bottom of the league in quarterback hurries, ranking 28th and getting pressure on just 5.1% of all dropbacks, good for 30th in the NFL.
It might be time to dial up the blitz against the Bengals.
3. Protect Russell Wilson
The offensive line’s edges were exposed against the Chiefs, with left tackle Dan Moore Jr. and right tackle Broderick Jones struggling to contain a Kansas City pass rush missing Chris Jones. Wilson was sacked five times, a season high.
The Bengals bring defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who leads the team with 13.5 sacks—more than any other player in the league. Hendrickson has been a constant threat, and while the Steelers were able to contain him in their previous matchup with Cincinnati, expect the Bengals to try to unleash him and force Wilson into off-balance throws.
Wilson didn’t have enough time to lock in on his top target, George Pickens, in the Kansas City game, and the Steelers must provide better protection. Whether that’s through extra tight ends or running backs like Jaylen Warren helping out, the Steelers need to give Wilson more time in the pocket.
4. Expand Warren’s Role
Jaylen Warren has been increasingly involved, playing at least 50% of the offensive snaps in the last four weeks and five of the past six games. The exception came in Week 13, when Najee Harris played the majority of snaps.
Harris surpassed 1,000 yards rushing against the Chiefs, but his usage has been down, and with his impending free agency, it’s time for the Steelers to give Warren more work. Smith has shown confidence in Warren, and with the postseason on the horizon, now is the right moment to make him a more prominent part of the offense.
5. Slow Down the Passing Game
Over the course of their three-game losing streak, the Steelers have dropped seven spots in pass defense, allowing nearly 227 passing yards per game and ranking 24th in the league.
While the Steelers were missing key secondary players like DeShon Elliott, Donte Jackson, and Joey Porter during the losing streak, all could be healthy for the season finale. The Steelers must prevent Joe Burrow from doing what other elite quarterbacks—like Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Jalen Hurts—have done: exploit weaknesses in the defense. Those quarterbacks combined to score 90 points and found success with tight ends across the middle and receivers open in the flat.
Burrow had 309 passing yards and three touchdowns in the Bengals’ 44-38 win over the Steelers on Dec. 1, helping Cincinnati set a season-high in points. Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Mike Gesicki all made big plays, exposing a defense that had all four starters in the secondary. If the Steelers don’t tighten things up, they risk heading into the playoffs riding a four-game losing streak.
