The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense faced a hostile environment in their Week 7 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Perhaps the most troubling outcome of the game was the continuation of an issue that has persisted throughout the season and in previous years under Mike Tomlin. He prides himself on having an elite defense, but that unit shrivels up when the lights are the brightest.
After revamping their secondary in the offseason, the Steelers seemed prepared to compete with Cincinnati and its elite offensive weapons. That did not happen; in fact, the opposite occurred. Pittsburgh struggled to stop the run, and they couldn't handle Ja'Marr Chase or Tee Higgins. They knew the Bengals would attack their secondary, but they had no plan to stop it.
That failed coaching scheme caused a speed bump in the season.
Tomlin was clear that he did not like Joe Flacco being traded within the division, and those comments now make him seem like a scared puppy. He didn't want any part of Flacco, and the long-time starter destroyed his defense. Cincinnati was able to impose its will on the Steelers, continuing a troubling trend that could derail Pittsburgh’s season just as it has in the past.
Pittsburgh Steelers continue a disturbing trend this season under HC Mike Tomlin
So far this season, the Steelers have struggled to win games when they lose the turnover battle and face a capable starting quarterback. Both of their losses have come against Sam Darnold and Flacco. Darnold and the Seahawks capitalized on multiple turnovers, and the Seattle quarterback effectively managed the Steelers' defensive pressure. It seems predictable.
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Flacco might not be the same gunslinger he used to be, but he turned back the clock against Pittsburgh this week. He knew that if you slow down the Steelers' pass rushers by getting the ball out of your hands quickly, they wouldn't have an answer. They tested Pittsburgh's secondary throughout the game, and neither Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, nor Joey Porter Jr. had answers.
Aside from those two games, the Steelers' secondary has allowed a significant number of passing yards throughout the season, except for their strong performance against the Cleveland Browns. They have allowed backup quarterbacks to produce close games and risk losing matchups. Tomlin cut his teeth coaching secondaries across the NFL, but he appears to have lost his roots.
There is too much talent for the Steelers' secondary to play that poorly.
Yes, Chase and Higgins are elite receivers, but Tomlin and Teryl Austin need better game plans against solid starting quarterbacks. They will face three quality starters over the next three games: Jordan Love, Daniel Jones, and Justin Herbert. That will be the defining test of how Tomlin and the defense are judged this season.