The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently in a steep decline. Despite holding a 10-6 record and securing a playoff spot, the team’s future looks increasingly uncertain. As they head into the AFC Wild Card Round, their best-case scenario appears to be a 1-3 record in the final month of the season. This is particularly concerning given that one of their remaining games is against a potent Cincinnati Bengals offense, and a win in that matchup is anything but guaranteed. Recently, the Steelers suffered a significant 29-10 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs, marking their largest loss of the season. This also marked their third consecutive defeat by multiple possessions in December, highlighting the team’s troubling decline in form. Right now, the Steelers look like a team that will struggle in the first round of the playoffs, with much of the blame pointing to a defense that has dramatically underperformed as the weather has turned colder.
Edge rusher Alex Highsmith voiced his concerns, emphasizing the importance of desire and determination in the final stretch of the season. “It’s got to be a want-to,” Highsmith said, acknowledging that there is a lack of intensity among the players. “We got two guaranteed games left. We’re going to find out who wants this. Everybody in this room has to want it. That’s the only way we’re going to move on and get better.” Highsmith’s words, though well-intentioned, are concerning for a team that has built its identity on a strong, competitive culture under head coach Mike Tomlin. The fact that Highsmith felt the need to vocalize such sentiments at this point in the season signals deeper issues. The problem isn’t that Highsmith’s remarks are incorrect or inappropriate, but that the need for them to be said in the first place speaks to a lack of urgency and commitment within the team.
Since Week 15, the Steelers’ defense has been struggling, particularly in the passing game. The team ranks a dismal 31st in expected points added per dropback, with the secondary deteriorating and the defensive line unable to make up for its shortcomings. While the team was once known for a ferocious pass rush, that strength has been undermined by their inability to stop the run. This defensive collapse has placed even more pressure on the offense, which has often been unable to rise to the occasion—especially in the two games where wide receiver George Pickens was sidelined.
The Steelers were always going to face a tough road ahead with a schedule filled with Super Bowl contenders and division rivals in the second half of the season. However, what’s alarming is that the team no longer appears to be simply outmatched in terms of talent. Instead, they seem to lack the necessary drive and cohesion to compete at a high level. Safety DeShon Elliott voiced his frustration with the team’s struggles, particularly in coverage. “Guys can’t be (expletive) wide open. Do your job,” he said, expressing the frustration that many within the team feel. “I feel like we communicated. Guys just weren’t doing their freaking job. Get back to the drawing board. It’s Week 17. We shouldn’t be having these problems.”
From head coach Mike Tomlin to newcomers and trusted veterans alike, it’s clear that a lack of effort is at the heart of the Steelers’ current issues. The team’s playoff aspirations are hanging by a thread, and the clock is ticking down to find a solution. As the team enters the final stretch of the season, the Steelers must address their glaring issues—both in terms of effort and execution—if they hope to make a meaningful impact in the postseason. Time is running out for this group to rediscover the grit and intensity that has been the hallmark of Pittsburgh football in years past.