The Pittsburgh Steelers were just short of embarrassed on primetime in their 25-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday night. As has been the case in the four losses suffered this season, where the defense held firm, the offense faltered.
After the game, a clearly frustrated Mike Tomlin boiled the game down to the predictable results of an offense that didn’t convert its first third down until halfway through the fourth quarter while also losing the turnover battle.
“Just on the grass too long,” Tomlin said after the game. “We didn’t convert enough third downs. The time of possession was what it was. Collectives and individuals wear down when you’re not standing up.”
Mike Tomlin’s blunt assessment reflected the Pittsburgh Steelers’ growing offensive crisis
The Steelers finished the game 2-11 on third downs, failed their only fourth down attempt, and lost the time of possession by a full quarter and 10 extra seconds. They also lost the turnover battle 3-0.
Pittsburgh is now 1-3 in games where they failed to register a takeaway and 0-3 in games where they lost the turnover battle.
Of course, only two of those turnovers came through the offense, on the back of two Aaron Rodgers interceptions, only one of which was truly his fault. Still, Rodgers’ tough night was only cemented on the Steelers’ last chance to score meaningful points in the game.
After the Steelers offense drove into scoring position on the back of Jaylen Warren’s 26 scrimmage yards early in the fourth, Pittsburgh threw the ball three straight times from the 10 and left without a score. Warren was easily the most productive player on offense in the game, picking up 91 yards from scrimmage on 16 touches, 70 of which came on the ground.
Considering Rodgers’ struggles and Warren’s production, the final question tossed at Tomlin Sunday night asked if the Steelers should have run the ball more. Tomlin responded in frustration with an explanation of why that couldn’t happen.
“Guys, like, you go 0-9 or 10 on third downs, you’re not going to have enough snaps. We’ve been over that discussion a lot,” Tomlin said.
READ MORE: Aaron Rodgers' meltdown threw gas on Steelers' lingering dumpster fire
To Tomlin’s point, it’s tough to establish the run when the offense isn’t moving the chains, even if a back is having a strong game. Pittsburgh was in 3rd and 4 or longer 10 times. Understandably, it’s hard to move the chains on the ground in such situations, and it’s hard to stay ahead of the chains when nearly every third-down attempt is such a challenge
Still, the one 3rd and 2 Pittsburgh faced was a pass, and Rodgers was sacked on that play.
At the same time, the Chargers ran 19 more plays than Pittsburgh, with nearly twice as many run plays called to boot. Tomlin acknowledged that none of this equates to a winning formula.
An unreliable winning formula is why the Steelers find themselves at 5-4, with their hold on the AFC North lead slipping. They can get a bit more cushion if they strike the right balance against the Cincinnati Bengals next week.