The Patriots can take some credit for the Steelers' decision Wednesday to part ways with offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Though Pittsburgh finished with top-10 scoring offenses in each of the last four seasons, it's apparent quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Haley did not get along. Their seeming acrimony was on display last month, when the Steelers fell apart in their final drive against the Patriots. Roethlisberger blamed the coaching staff, meaning Haley, for the team's failure.
The Roethlisberger-Haley rift exploded this season, when the future Hall of Fame quarterback reportedly asked for other coaches to serve as a buffer between him and Haley. But the discord has been bubbling for a while. Last year, Roethlisberger teased retirement, but curiously announced this week he intends to play for at least three more years. It's likely Haley's departure propelled his change of heart.
The Patriots haven't just beaten opponents throughout their dynastic run. They've unraveled them. Just ask the Seahawks, who reportedly couldn't stop fretting about the Patriots in the aftermath of their last-second Super Bowl loss. Seattle fired offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell last week, three years after his ill-flated slant pass.
Pittsburgh fell apart at Gillette Stadium Dec. 17, collapsing after tight end Jesse James' touchdown catch was overturned. Though the Steelers still had an opportunity to tie the game with a 24-yard field goal, Roethlisberger threw a slant pass in the middle of the end zone from the seven-yard line instead of spiking the ball. Patriots safety Duron Harmon came down with the interception.
Roethlisberger blamed the coaching staff following the gut-wrenching loss. "It wasn't a fake spike," he told reporters. "I was yelling 'clock it' because I felt that was the thing to do, to clock it and get yourself one play. And it came from the sideline: 'Don't clock it, don't clock it.'"
Prior to the Divisional Round, the Steelers spent much more time talking about the Patriots than their opponent, the Jaguars. Pittsburgh's loss was so embarrassing, the franchise's limited partners reportedly want Mike Tomlin fired.
From a talent standpoint, the Steelers are the only team in the AFC that compares to the Patriots. But their dysfunction prohibited them from making a postseason challenge. The Steelers crumpled against the Patriots in December and then couldn't get Bill Belichick and Tom Brady out of their mind.
It's a story we've seen many times before.
