Steelers are their own worst enemy ahead of Week 6 matchup against Raiders

In the wake of a heartbreaking loss, the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves at 3-2 on the season, now locked in a tie with the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North. Despite their valiant efforts in winning the turnover game, the team has been plagued by slow starts on offense and miscommunications on defense.

Can Pittsburgh rally and chart a new course before their Week 6 showdown against the Raiders?

Steelers offense continues to come out the gate subpar

The Steelers are grappling with a critical issue- their offense’s persistent slow starts. The team has consistently faltered in coming out strong and unified in recent weeks. They have a massive concern on their hands with the continuous slow starts for the offense.

Penalties have proven to be a significant hurdle, repeatedly thwarting the team’s momentum with false starts. This pattern of slow starts and penalties is undermining the team’s potential for success. 

Missed opportunities were on full display during the game. There was a rocket deep shot to Connor Heyward that ultimately fell incomplete, and another play where the big TE Darnell Washington narrowly missed a completion, denying the team a chance to reach the red zone. To add to the frustration, George Pickens, who had been talking a big game with expletives across his eye blacks, ended up visibly disappointed and engaged in a heated exchange with a Cowboys player after the game.

The offense is in dire need of a spark in the passing game. Rumors are swirling about the possibility of Davante Adams being traded, and adding another strong veteran WR to complement Pickens could be the key to unleashing the full passing potential of Fields.

While Fields has shown glimpses of his deep ball prowess, the team needs more veteran presence to elevate their lackluster WR room and truly synchronize their efforts. It’s time to make a bold move and take the passing game to the next level.

A disjointed defensive unit fails despite turnover heroics 

Despite managing to secure 3 takeaways, the Steelers defense struggled as Dak Prescott threw for an impressive 352 yards on Sunday night. While the defense effectively contained CeeDee Lamb as predicted, they faced challenges against Jalen Tolbert and Jake Ferguson. The game was marred by visible miscommunications, with defensive players appearing confused about their assignments when lining up.

The edge rushing defense took a major blow with Nick Herbig’s injury, but the team’s challenges ran deeper. The middle of the field was left wide open as Patrick Queen and Minkah Fitzpatrick struggled to sync up . Beanie Bishop Jr. appeared confused about coverage and his costly penalties allowed the Cowboys to continue drives.

While it’s natural for young players to face growing pains, the Steelers need more from their young CB. To make matters worse, the defense once again allowed the opposing team to convert over 50% of their third-down situations. It’s time for a change.

Leaders like T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Minkah Fitzpatrick continue to hammer down that these issues trace back to practice and need to be addressed before facing the Raiders. There is a palpable sense of urgency in Pittsburgh right now, and the organization desperately needs a game plan that can turn the season around.

Questionable coaching under the radar 

This season has been full of head-scratching moments for Steelers fans, and the recent game against the Cowboys was no exception. Head Coach Mike Tomlin’s decision to limit the playing time of star wideout George Pickens to only 34 out of 58 snaps has left fans puzzled. While Mike T brushed off the concerns, some speculate that there may be a larger undisclosed issue at play. Could there be more to this story than meets the eye?

Tomlin’s decision-making on Sunday night added yet another blunder to his record. Using two timeouts early in the Cowboy’s final drive, and then blowing the last one to get a better look at the 4th and goal setup, displayed a lack of situational awareness.

The uncertainty surrounding the offense’s ability to generate a potential game-tying field goal highlighted the need for better decision-making in crucial moments. Mike T’s failure to make the right calls is a cause for concern in Pittsburgh. 

The Steeler’s persistent reliance on their defense to pull through has to change. It’s frustrating to see that if the team could kick off with momentum, the defense wouldn’t face unnecessary pressure to carry the team in the final moments. 

Onto the Raiders 

There are numerous concerns that need to be addressed and resolved before heading to Las Vegas this weekend. It doesn’t matter whether the team goes up against Gardner Minshew II or Aidan O’Connell; what truly matters is how the team will confront its own challenges. Steelers Nation, keep your head up. Another weekend of redemption football is coming.