PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Where did it go wrong? Let's look at reasons for a Steelers non-playoff season for the third time in the last five years.
They weren't that good
Look back at all of the preseason picks, nearly everyone, especially those who following the team closely had them winning between 7-9 games. Those who are with the Steelers daily knew there were a lot of questions.
· First year without a two-decade, Hall of Fame starting quarterback. Rarely is there a smooth transition from a generational quarterback to the next starter.
· New offensive line grouping-last year's center relegated to never dressing for games while you add his replacement and a free agent right guard from Chicago. There were growing pains
· Early camp injuries to Najee Harris, Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool
· Even with the money spent on defense, a big question at middle linebacker and the loss of corner Joe Haden and the official retirement of Stephon Tuitt.
The losses
New England, 17-14-A Nelson Aguilar 44-yard touchdown made it 10-3 Pats, then a Gunner Olszewski muffed punt gave the Patriots the ball at the Steelers 10 and soon at 17-3 deficit
at Cleveland, 29-17-Steelers give up 11, 12 and 14-play touchdown drives along with 171 yards rushing
New York Jets, 24-20-Mitch Trubisky benched at half trailing 10-6, Kenny Pickett threw 3 interceptions & the Steelers allow 252 yards passing to Zach Wilson. Breece Hall rushes for 2-yard TD with 18 seconds left on an 11 play, 65 yard drive.
at Buffalo, 38-3-never in the game
at Miami, 16-10-defense recovered after Tua was hot early, pitched a shutout in the second half, but Pickett threw a pair of interceptions in Dolphins territory in the fourth quarter.
at Philadelphia, 35-13-they weren't going to win this game
Cincinnati, 37-30-revenge for Joe Burrow 355 yards passing and four touchdowns, Samaje Perine caught 3 TD. The game-winning drive went 8-plays, 93 yards
Baltimore, 16-14-needed to stop 3 runs at the end of the game and couldn't, allowed 215 yards rushing, Kenny Pickett injured on 1st series, Mitch Trubisky threw three interceptions.
The injuries
LB TJ Watt-The win over Tampa Bay was the first time in his career the Steelers won a game without him in the lineup. It was a massive injury Week 1 against Cincinnati.
RB Najee Harris-Mike Tomlin wouldn't say what it was, it was only Harris who disclosed he suffered a Lisfranc injury in training camp. It typically takes two-to-three months at least to recover, yet he started the season on time. He never looked like the same back until after the bye week
DL Larry Ogunjobi-he dealt with several injuries during the season. When he was reasonably healthy, he was a difference-maker at making the Steelers effective stopping the run.
QB Kenny Pickett-pair of concussions or at least concussion-protocol designations-he only missed one start, but almost all of the loss against Baltimore and you wonder if he was right against the Dolphins.
CB Ahkello Witherspoon-to a lessor extent, Witherspoon had won the starting corner job but played only four games with hamstring issues. The game he attempted to return, wasn't right against the Eagles.
The growth we saw in the second half should carry over on offense, only TE Zach Gentry is an unrestricted free agent for next year. The defense will have holes to fill-S Terrell Edmunds, DL Larry Ogunjobi, CB Cameron Sutton, DT Chris Wormley, S Damontae Kazee, LB Robert Spillane, LB Devin Bush and OLB Malik Reed all hit the open market.
It shouldn't be a surprise the Steelers aren't in the playoffs, the margin for error was too slim.
