Steelers started 7-2, then 10-3, closing out the regular season with 4 losses to end at 10-7. Their schedule strength was back-loaded, but 1 win in the final 4 games (Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs, Bengals) may have shown *some* signs for optimism. In 3 of those games, they were totally outclassed. As they were last night.
The Steelers are in a real bind, in that they seem to be stuck at 8-10 wins (only 1 season over 10 wins since 2017 - and they lost in the wild-card round). It's not a bad place to be, but there are NO signs it could get better before it gets worse. The DL and LB are aging and they've always had problems at DB. The OL struggles to run block and the RB room is just "ok." Their best WR - George Pickens - seems to be a moron and has largely been neutralized in the past 5 games - and he's had a case of the drops. Moreover, he said he was not optimistic about the offense going forward - in a post-game interview YESTERDAY.
At QB, both Wilson and Fields are free agents. Wilson has looked good at times, and I think he's still getting paid by Denver, so he could be an option. But that just kicks the can down the road.
Tomlin is a good coach and I think he gets more wins out of his rosters than most other coaches could. However, his coordinator hires have been suspect. DC Teryl Austin (yes, the same guy who was the supposed DC for Urban Meyer, if Meyer arrived here) looks like he gets out-coached. Arthur Smith is just OK, but his system is predicated on effective rushing. Don't think you can fire Tomlin, but something needs to improve.
Time of possession last night: 40 to 20 in favor of Baltimore. 20 to 10 in both halves and 299 yards rushing for Baltimore. Hard to win a game like that.