The Pittsburgh Steelers improved to 2-1 following their 21-14 road victory over the New England Patriots. It hasn't been pretty or a particularly sustainable recipe for success, but the Black and Gold have gotten the job done thus far.
Winning ugly has been the Steelers' MO for nearly two decades under head coach Mike Tomlin's guidance. They have a propensity for grinding out victories, so their start to the 2025 NFL campaign shouldn't surprise anyone, especially fans of the club.
However, watching Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions makes you wonder what would happen if Pittsburgh added some flair to its conservative, old-school approach.
Lions HC Dan Campbell makes Pittsburgh Steelers fans realize Mike Tomlin's glaring limitations
Campbell and the Lions were making one gutsy play-call after another in their 38-30 Monday Night Football defeat of Pittsburgh's AFC North rival, the Baltimore Ravens. Detroit's aggressiveness made all the difference in the final result, converting all three of their fourth-down attempts, with each being more crucial than the next.
Steeler Nation, can you recall a clutch moment in which Tomlin successfully put his chips on the table on fourth down? The last notable instance may be when legendary franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was under center, and he retired nearly four years ago.
While Roethlisberger is hyperbolic, the numbers support Tomlin's glaring lack of aggression. He's a reactive sideline general, only pulling certain levers when push comes to shove. Conversely, Campbell is much more proactive, deliberately seeking opportunities to leave the outcome of a contest in his team's hands.
Detroit has ranked top five in fourth-down attempts each of the past four campaigns since Campbell was hired in 2021. They're currently pacing to do so again this season, especially following their primetime upset in Baltimore. Meanwhile, the Steelers have been near the bottom of the NFL in this category annually during this stretch.
Tomlin and Campbell demonstrably see the beautifully chaotic sport of football differently, and that's fine. Nevertheless, the former's style is more outdated, while the latter is more assertive. Considering the Steelers and Lions' respective trajectories with them at the helm, Detroit's strategy has been more conducive to success.
Pittsburgh hasn't won a playoff game since 2016, including four straight Wild Card exits. That's a far cry from the Lions, who have reached the Divisional Round twice and made a Championship Game appearance under Campbell's tutelage. Detroit's on the doorstep of a Super Bowl while the Steelers ride the treadmill of mediocrity; their philosophical differences stand out among the reasons why.