WARNING!!!
The following blog post contains some strong language that may not be suitable for all audiences. Viewer discretion advised!
You know where we’re going first….
You know…I wouldn’t be nearly half as pissed off as I am right now if the losses that we had this season weren’t as embarrassing as they’ve been. Ben throwing the pick in the endzone when they could’ve just run it in in Denver, the collapse in the second half against the Chargers, Chris Boswell’s embarrassing slip on the game tying field goal in Oakland, Juju’s fumble in New Orleans’ 20 yard line in the final seconds, but no because they happened, I’m pissed as all hell.
This is why you don’t lose three easy games that you should win because a game like this comes up and now, you’re screwed, you’re absolutely 100% screwed.
And honestly, I should’ve known it was going to be bad right from the spot, in a span of 48 hours, the Steelers went from a lock to clinch the AFC North to now, likely to not get in at all. It started with the Tennessee win over Washington, that keeps them in the hunt, and then the Chargers, I should’ve known that winning the game on a walk off 2 point conversion was going to bite them in the ass, and they handed Baltimore a win to put them ahead of Pittsburgh, then the Colts, who were down 14-0 to the Giants came all the way back to win on one point, Houston then losing to Philadelphia also put New England back in the mix for a bye week. All of those things should’ve been the ultimate warning sign that this was going to end as badly as it did…and it did.
I mean, what do I even need to say about the game that isn’t already there, yeah Ben didn’t get picked off but when you needed to end the game and keep the Saints from getting back in, they couldn’t do it. Even when you had the chance to seal it away, you do something as stupid as fake punt it in your own territory and NOT get it.
And now, the Steelers are screwed, this coaching staff has wasted a Super Bowl caliber roster because of things that are completely avoidable and yet, you do it anyway to give the other team an advantage.
I was gonna wait until the end of the season to talk about why the Steelers have been as bad as they’ve been this year but you know what, fuck it, I’m too pissed off right now not to do it. Want to know why the Steelers have collapsed as bad as they’ve had?
First off, the defense. Look, I get it, losing Ryan Shazier was a gigantic loss for this team and I’m sure when he comes back, he’ll help to turn it around but I’m sorry, the defense while they have shown flashes of greatness this season, they can’t close games. You’ve got the lead, you’re suppose to stop your opponent from getting into your territory in the final seconds, they had every single opportunity to stop Drew Brees and the Saints from getting into the endzone and they couldn’t do it. They couldn’t stop fucking Derek Carr from putting up a long touchdown drive in the final minutes. If there’s anybody on that coaching staff that needs to be fired, it’s Keith Butler, the defensive coordinator, he’s the reason why the defense has been so sloppy this season.
Second, this team consistent doesn’t make halftime adjustments. Yeah, you got lucky in the Jacksonville game by not making halftime adjustments but you have to make those adjustments all the time, Denver, Los Angeles, Oakland and New Orleans beat you because you didn’t make the halftime adjustments but the other team did to beat you to a pulp.
Third, playing down to the competition and repeating the same gameplans from past games, why do you think they tied Cleveland in the opener? And then lost to Kansas City & Baltimore at home? And then losing to Denver, Los Angeles, Oakland? Because you don’t want to beat these lesser teams to a pulp, you make it too close so it could be a fairer fight. Well, guess what, everybody else has figured out that you’re doing this and now, it’s biting you in the ass. And I swear to god, it really does feel like they are repeating the same gameplans from past seasons and just going with the history instead of actually preparing for the current iteration.
Kansas City never won in Pittsburgh…until this year, Baltimore and Los Angeles saw through your gaps and made you look like fools in Pittsburgh, Oakland won because they knew you were going to fuck up and give them opportunities. The only two games where it seemed like they gave a shit were beating Jacksonville and New England. Well, guess what, you won those games but it’s not going to mean jackshit if you don’t make the playoffs, which is now a likely possibility.
Fourth, you are making it way too easy for other teams to beat you because other teams are improving and you are not.
Fifth, the Steelers have pretty much blown their last chance at controlling the AFC North. Think about it, the Ravens are looking red hot with Lamar Jackson right now as the QB, the Bengals are looking to redo itself likely with Marvin Lewis getting axed at the end of the season, and then there’s the Browns who aren’t the same clusterfuck of a team anymore, they’re a legitimate team right now. The Steelers are seriously in danger of becoming irrelevant and even worse, becoming the new Cleveland Browns…that’s how bad this is right now. This is their last chance to remain relevant and they are blowing it right now.
And yes, I know that the Steelers aren’t not eliminated yet and can still get in with a win against the Bengals and then the Browns have to beat the Ravens in Baltimore…but really think about that. You not only need to beat your hated rival who would love nothing more than to knock you out of the playoffs and make you suffer and then…you need the Browns to actually do you a favor and win in Baltimore? Do you really think that’s going to happen. Cleveland could honestly look at this game and go “so, if we lose, we knock Pittsburgh out the playoffs? Hmm…” and they can just hand Baltimore the division, they’re that pissed off at being a pariah for the last 20 years to think that.
And like I said, the Steelers winning against the Bengals isn’t a guarantee either. Like I said, that team would love nothing more to not only knock you out of the playoffs but also, beat you into submission and maybe injure you for life. Plus, the Steelers can’t close in the 4th quarter, yeah I know, the Bengals aren’t playing with their full roster but neither were the Raiders, nor were the Saints and they still managed to beat this team.
I know that I’ve been venting out my frustrations on this team but what else am I suppose to do after a collapse like this? That’s all this is, a fucking collapse, the Steelers were 7-2-1, looking at getting a bye after the win against Jacksonville, and then just collapsed on their own shit in the last six weeks.
I’m not going to be one of those fans that are gonna burn my jerseys and memorabilia and be done with the Steelers but after this loss, I have no hope that the Steelers make it to the playoffs, they dug themselves a gigantic hole that they can’t get out of, and something has to give next year, whether it’s getting rid of Tomlin or just firing the defensive coordinator or something, something needs to happen to get this team back on track in 2019.
I’m just tired, I just wanted to have a good Christmas but you know what, this just put a sour taste in my mouth. And no, I’m not depressed or suicidal or anything so don’t worry about me, it’s just venting my frustration right now, it is Festivus after all.
But yeah, it just felt like something horrendous was about to happen this weekend and it did so, that’s that. Here’s hoping for a late Christmas miracle next week but I just don’t see it happening if I’m being honest.
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