After an 8-2 start to the 2024 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers have since gone 2-2 over their last four games. Their latest loss was a 27-13 showing against the Eagles, but a two-score game doesn't speak to how one-sided this Week 15 affair was.
The Steelers were outgained 163 yards to 401 against Philadelphia while nearly getting doubled in time of possession. The only good news is that the Eagles are considered by many to be the top team in the NFL entering Week 16.
Unfortunately, anytime you have a performance this ugly, it's reasonable to expect a backslide in the power rankings. The latest NFL power rankings have the Steelers moving on back.
Steelers power rankings entering Week 16
NFL Nation, ESPN: 7th
After trading places with the Packers on the power rankings, the Steelers have swapped positions with Green Bay moving back down to 7th on ESPN's latest list entering Week 16. Brooke Pryor points to a season-low game for Russell Wilson and the offense's inability to function without George Pickens.
Eric Edholm, NFL.com: 8th
Eric Edholm has been a Steelers skeptic at times this season. After the loss against the Eagles, NFL.com has Pittsburgh sliding from 6th to 8th in the updated power rankings. While Edholm notes the Steelers clinched a playoff spot despite the loss, he also couldn't ignore how poorly the offense performed. T.J. Watt's ankle injury was the cherry on top of a terrible day in Week 15.
Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk: 8th
Mike Florio isn't convinced the Steelers can beat an elite team, and Pittsburgh's performance against the Eagles certainly wasn't the way to convince him they can. Like Edholm, Florio has Mike Tomlin's team dropping two spots from 6th to 8th. In the process, the Packers and Ravens jump ahead.
Pete Prisco called the Steelers' offense 'lifeless' against the Eagles, and he's not wrong. This opens up questions about Russell Wilson as they head into Baltimore and could be without their top wide receiver for the third week in a row. Prisco has Pittsburgh dropping one spot to 7th in his latest NFL power rankings.
We found someone who isn't tearing the Steelers to shreds after their ugly Week 15 loss! Nate Davis of USA Today is taking the 'on to the next game' approach with Tomlin's team. He notes the Steelers haven't lost a game in Baltimore in five years. The Steelers' positioning remains unchanged in his latest power rankings.
Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports: 7th
After climbing to 6th in the power rankings after the win over the Browns last week, Frank Schwab of Yahoo! Sports has Pittsburgh losing their footing and slipping back behind the Ravens this week. Schwab mentions there's no shame in losing to a talented Eagles team, but believes the offensive concerns without Pickens are real.