Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
How low can they go? How low can they go? How low can they go?
After the Pittsburgh Steelers crapped the bed in Foxborough on Sunday evening, it looks like the team will be sitting at home during the postseason for the second consecutive year. Their most loss sent them to 2-6 and definitely destroyed their credibility when it came to the “NFL Power Rankings” of pundits across the country.
How far did the Steelers actually fall? Take a look below to find out, readers:
"They look like the Steelers. They play their home games in Pittsburgh. But these aren’t the Steelers.-Mike Florio (Pro Football Talk, Ranked #28)"
The snarky jagoff strikes again, readers. Seriously though, Florio is correct. This current Steelers team resembles nothing like any of the ones which we have seen over the last two decades. They lack toughness, talent, and discipline, and the only thing they have in common with teams from the recent past is the fact that they play in Pittsburgh.
"The Steelers put up a [sic] season-highs in total net yards (479 and a season-high in points (31) but they surrendered a franchise-worst 610 total yards and 55 points on defense.-Brian Billick (FOX Sports.com, Ranked #30)"
Besides the fact that Billick struggled to use parentheses correctly, he is correct that Pittsburgh’s defense was pathetic on Sunday evening. I also agree that the only two teams worse than Pittsburgh are Tampa Bay and Jacksonville.
"What happened to that defense at New England? They are about done.-Pete Prisco (CBS Sports.com, Ranked #29)"
Tom Brady and New England’s offense put up numbers (610 yards and 55 points) against Pittsburgh’s defense which made it seem like the Steelers were playing with eight or nine guys. I just hope that the front office is willing to cut, release, or not tender the underachieving players and members of the coaching staff on that side of the ball during the upcoming offseason.
"We might have found rock bottom. Pittsburgh allowed 55 points and 610 yards of offense in a loss to the Patriots on Sunday, both the most in Steelers’ history.–ESPN.com (Power Rankings, Ranked #27)"
After the debacle in Oakland, I am more intrigued than anything else to see how much the Patriots stomp the Steelers at Gillette Stadium. Pittsburgh has not beat a Tom Brady-led team in that stadium, and New England’s future Hall of Fame signal-caller could be primed once again to carve Dick LeBeau’s soft-zone.
"It might not be noticeable to the general masses, but the way that Ben Roethlsiberger is competing out there without any help is admirable.That said, it would be nice to see the Steelers run Le’Veon Bell 25 times, or maybe try some tight-end screens … anything to make life a bit easier for their franchise quarterback. Otherwise, Roethlisberger is eventually going to go down and not get up.-Elliot Harrison (NFL.com, Ranked #29)"
I am glad that Harrison recognized what a warrior “Big Ben” has been this season. Pittsburgh’s signal-caller has been one of the few bright spots to watch this season, and I for one wish that the front office and coaching staff could put a halfway-competent offensive line in front of him.
Stats & Contract Info. Provided By: ESPN.com, Steelers.com , Spotrac, and Pro Football Reference
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