The Pittsburgh Steelers were overwhelmed in a 26-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The offense struggled badly, the run game never found any traction, and the defense was dominated on the ground. It has dropped them to 6-6. HC Mike Tomlin has now gone 62 straight games,  64 including playoffs,  scoring 7 or fewer points in the first quarter, the longest such streak by any head coach before being fired in NFL history. The fans were chanting ‘Fire Tomlin,’ and the Steelers HC has expressed his thoughts on that. 

After the game, Tomlin was asked about it and said he understands why the fans are so disappointed by what they saw in the loss to the Bills.“I share their frustration tonight. We didn’t do enough. That’s just the reality of it,” he said. “I know how restless and frustrated I was, so I assume they were in the same state we were in.” One could see the Steelers HC’s frustration on the sideline as his team struggled, but he is also the coach who led this team to a Super Bowl. 

Mike Tomlin is in his 19th season as the Steelers' head coach, with a contract through the 2027 season. During that time, he has won a Super Bowl, put together a 189-113-2 regular-season record, and has never had a losing season. Normally, a track record like that would make any coach feel secure. But that Super Bowl win came back in 2008, his second year on the job, and the Steelers have not won a playoff game since 2016. 

The fanbase is starting to grow restless, and many are wondering when actual progress will return. But while Tomlin agrees with the fans, players don’t. 

Rookie linebacker Jack Sawyer came in support of his head coach and pointed out that they (players) are not playing up to the mark and “need to take ownership as players” and play better. While the chants do come from the fans, NFL insiders say that Tomlin won’t be fired. “If a change ever occurs there, it’s going to be because Mike Tomlin doesn’t want to be back there,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show. 

Though the Steelers' performance in this game was so bad that even Aaron Rodgers did not defend it. 

Aaron Rodgers walks the same path as Mike Tomlin

The loss to the Bills was a rough one for Aaron Rodgers and the entire Steelers offense. Rodgers completed only 10 of his 21 passes for 117 yards, and the unit could never find a rhythm. The defense didn’t fare much better, giving up 249 rushing yards and letting Buffalo dominate possession for an incredible 42 minutes. 

Rodgers' fumble returned for a touchdown early in the second half, broke the game open, and the Steelers never recovered. From start to finish, it was one of those games where nothing really clicked for Pittsburgh on either side of the ball. 

“For a ticket, so they have the right, good, bad, or indifferent, to say what they want. So, I totally understand the frustration. I've been voted on offense, even in Green Bay, over the years. So that was a boo-worthy performance, and I understand the frustration,” Rodgers said after the game.
Do you agree with his statement? 

Written by

Reyansh Dubey

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu