Another primetime game, another embarrassing Pittsburgh Steelers loss as they fell to the Los Angeles Chargers 25-10. For the second time in three weeks, a Sunday night matchup exposed this team’s flaws and reminded a national audience just how much of a fraud the Steelers have been for years.
After a big win over the Colts last week, it looked like Pittsburgh might finally be turning the corner toward resembling a real playoff contender. Instead, they collapsed once again under the bright lights, proving they have no real shot come playoff time if they even get there.
In the blink of an eye, that loss to the Chargers has the Steelers looking over their shoulders at a surging Ravens team coming off three straight wins. It feels like déjà vu, another season where Pittsburgh had the AFC North right in its grasp, only to let it slip away once again.
With just a one-game lead over the Ravens, the Pittsburgh Steelers' situation feels all too familiar
Flashback to last year, when the Steelers held a two-game lead in the AFC North with five games left, sitting at 10-3, only to lose four straight and the division. Now history feels like it is creeping back. The Ravens, who once sat at 1-5 while Pittsburgh was 4-1, have closed the gap, and the Steelers now hold only a one-game lead over Baltimore.
With a favorable remaining schedule for the Ravens and a tougher slate ahead for Pittsburgh, the loss to the Chargers stings even more, especially with potential future tie breakers looming as the playoff picture takes shape.
The Steelers and Ravens still have two games left against each other, but there is little faith in this Pittsburgh team to actually win the division. Sunday night was a prime example. After two straight weeks of the defense showing signs of life, the offense went completely lifeless. Pittsburgh has been far too inconsistent, never able to play a complete game in all phases. When the defense finally starts to figure things out, the offense repeatedly fails to execute against legitimate defenses.
This same story has played out time and again over the past few years. These Steelers teams crumble when the moments get too big, collapse late in the season, and squeak into the playoffs only to be exposed. Once again, it looks like this will be another year of history repeating itself, and we don’t even have to wait until December to see the writing on the wall.