Takeaways: Steelers in free fall after loss to Patriots?
Steel City Underground presents post-game takeaways from every Pittsburgh Steelers game of the 2023 NFL regular season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers entered Week 13 of the 2023 NFL regular season with a record of 7-3; they exited Week 14 – a shortened period of time due to a Sunday game followed by Thursday Night Football – with a record of 7-5. In back to back games, the Steelers struggled against 2-10 teams in the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots. After a less than pleasing performance in front of their home fans, questions now turn to whether or not the Steelers are in a free fall.
The optimistic answer would be that there are four weeks remaining in the season to get things corrected and on track. The pragmatic response may very well be that this team has given all the heart they have and may not be able to overcome their current situation.
The fact that running back Jaylen Warren was the top receiver for a large portion of the game Thursday night speaks to how ineffective the Steelers offense was. There were moments, plays that sparked some level of hope. And then, there were plays that completely overshadowed all the good that was accomplished.
Mitch Trubisky was unable to read the Patriots defense often in the first half, resulting in one interception and two near-interceptions as he progressed poorly through his reads. New England often showed a scheme only to back out as the ball was snapped, resulting in off-target throws that then continued throughout the game.
Trubisky was able to redeem himself a bit after converting three different quarterback keepers; two of those plays resulted in first downs and one capped off a drive for a touchdown. He also threw a nice touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson and another to Pat Freiermuth for the two-point conversion play.
This was a hot shot https://t.co/IClgw9j5AV
— Christina Rivers (@3Rivers_Writer) December 8, 2023
It would be patently unfair to place all the blame on the quarterback for the end result of this game, though. His decision making was not good, but two plays called to heave the ball up for grabs when short yardage was needed for a new set of downs was poor coming in from the sidelines. That falls squarely on the shoulders of the interim offensive coordinator and his fellow coordinators.
All three of the outside linebackers the Steelers fielded ended up getting mugged in this game. As a result, Alex Highsmith left the game with a neck injury after a play that showed the Patriots’ left tackle with his arm wrapped around his neck. Nick Herbig was also in that same situation, but a flag was thrown on that play against New England.
The situation at inside linebacker was grim after being exploited early, but Mykal Walker got a gift of an interception thanks to a hit by Elandon Roberts on JuJu Smith-Schuster that popped the ball into the air. That play seemed to give the defense a bit of a lift.
The team really looked primed for a comeback when special teams ace Miles Killebrew blocked a Patriots punt attempt. It also got the crowd refocused on the potential for the Steelers to rebound. Unfortunately, the closest Pittsburgh was able to get was within three points of tying New England as time ran out on the game clock.
The defense once again carried the game, but even they showed there are cracks in the armor that can be exposed and exploited. Their first half performance was ugly. Veteran players, Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt, were among those who tried to keep the energy moving in a positive direction, but there was just too little, too late once the offense was given the ball and unable to put points on the scoreboard in the final quarter.
Steelers special teams captain Miles Killebrew got a little emotional when talking about how he got death threats following last week's game in which he had 3 penalties.
Whoever felt the need to do that (surely under a fake name) is scum of the Earth.
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) December 8, 2023
The negativity from the fanbase is spilling over, now, into ugly territory. Frustration has come to a head. The players hear it and are feeling the brunt of it. The staff are well aware that the atmosphere is unsettled. It’s taking its toll collectively.
Officiating once again negatively affected one particular drive – or its potential – in this game. A false start was erroneously called on the Steelers’ long-snapper when it was clear that the Patriots were offsides. It was one of those judgment calls that has plagued the NFL this season.
With the mini-bye before Pittsburgh plays again, the team will have to close the door on the external noise and find ways to communicate with each other in order to get out of the hole they’re in. Can it happen? Yes. Will it happen in time to save this season from a free fall into disaster? That is the looming question.
