Mike Tomlin not entirely responsible for the Steelers 9-8 record in 2022
Steelers vs AFC North
The Steelers had a mixed bag here. Beating the Bengals in the year’s first half, losing in the 2nd half. Losing to Cleveland early, then beating them when it mattered most. They split games with the Ravens, although they should have won both. They lost one because they couldn’t stop the run, and as you know, Tomlin is the real defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, not so much. So that loss is on Tomlin. They won the 2nd game but here is where luck had an impact. They played a very banged-up Ravens team. No Lamar Jackson and Rashod Bateman being out for the year. They got the luck of the draw playing the Ravens twice after the bye week.
You do not want to discount Tomlin’s role. He plays a pivotal role in any success the Steelers have. Looking back at the 2022 season, there are enough questions to make one wonder if 9-8 was all due to Tomlin nor that he’s even largely responsible. One could claim the late-season success was due to a particular combination of factors, like Watt’s return, Najee Running better, the offensive line gelling, or a weak schedule. Rather in layman’s terms, good old-fashioned luck.
The point here is that Tomlin is not a bad coach, and the Steelers would be hard-pressed to find a successful replacement. Within that, yes, the Steelers did get to 9-8. Despite that, it does not feel like the Steelers were as successful as the record indicated and that they still lost. In part, instead of getting a top 10 draft choice now, they get the 17th overall selection. Considering if they did have more losses, they would have had a higher selection, plus the Bear’s first choice in round two with their second-round selection.
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The draft aside, it also feels like a loss in that the Steelers even got to 9-8 and were exposed. Exposed in that well, some things got to give with the assistant coaches; they still need to work on the offensive line. Tomlin needs to make some tough choices. Great coaches make them go on, and if they prove wrong, they learn from their mistakes. With Tomlin, you have more of a feeling he’s a deer frozen in the headlights by the oncoming car.