What we learned from Steelers' pitiful Week 15 loss vs. Eagles

The Steelers were routed on the road against the Eagles. Will this be the catalyst for change or will this be the 'same old, same old' response to a loss?

Dec 15, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head c coach Mike Tomlin talks with Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Dec 15, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head c coach Mike Tomlin talks with Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Well, the 'good vibes' didn't last long, did they? Coming off back-to-back AFC North Division wins, the Steelers went on the road to face a red-hot team in the Philadelphia Eagles, who summarily dispatched Pittsburgh with alarming ease.

When the schedule was released earlier this year, my son and I both predicted a loss, so the outcome was not all that surprising. The manner in which we lost was surprising. We were outgained in every major category, outplayed and outcoached.

Steelers' offense reverted to the feckless model we witnessed the previous two seasons

One-hundred and sixty-three total yards. That's it. That's all the Steelers offense was able to muster. Granted, we were going against a formidable defense but I thought we had turned a corner. Apparently, I was wrong.

While we managed to gain only fifty-six rushing yards against the Eagles, the running game has been overall effective. I would argue that Arthur Smith, who had to see that the running game would not work, did not adjust quickly enough.

The passing game did not fare much better, gaining a little over one hundred yards. We converted thirty percent of third-down opportunities and possessed the ball for a tad over twenty minutes. A feckless showing to say the least.

I honestly thought that despite playing without George Pickens, the Steelers' offense would be able to run the ball effectively, sprinkle in some play-action passes, and throw the ball to keep the Eagles' defense off guard. Perhaps that was the game plan but it 'went up in flames' pretty quickly.

Steelers' defense could not come up with the 'big play' when we needed it the most

Well, all I can say is that sometimes the opposing offense is just too much to handle. This was exactly the case for the Steelers' defense against the Eagles. Giving up slightly over four hundred yards is not what the defense is accustomed to, but that is what transpired.

The Eagles' offense ran seventy-seven plays on nine drives. Conversely, we ran forty-one plays on nine drives. The defense was on the field for too many plays and the result spoke for itself. For the majority of the 2024 season, the defense has delivered the 'big play' at the opportune moment.

Although we generated three sacks and two turnovers, they weren't enough to propel the Steelers to victory, which is unfortunate. To paraphrase Mike Tomlin, as the road gets narrow, the task gets more daunting. Pittsburgh's defense was not up to the task against the Eagles.

Pittsburgh can't seem to beat good teams late in the season when it matters the most

Look, I don't want to overreact to one loss, but the game against the Eagles was a litmus test, so to speak, for us and we did not pass the test, plain and simple. Unfortunately, this has been a recurring theme under Tomlin.

READ MORE: 2 winners (and 3 losers) from Steelers' pathetic Week 15 loss vs. Eagles

We either play down to our competition, meaning we lose to a team we should beat or we get completely 'steamrolled' against a a better team. What really bothers me the most about our performance against the Eagles is that we had an opportunity to tie the game but we fumbled away any chance of a comeback, literally and figuratively.

How are we supposed to beat the 'good' teams in January if we can beat them in December? That's a fair question if you ask me. To say that we need to play better and coach better would frankly be trivializing something that should be a given.

With three games reaming in the regular season and with all three of those games being conference games, two of which being AFC North Division games, the Steelers need to 'right the ship' quickly.

Can we do that? Yes. Will we do that? That's a question that I cannot answer at this juncture.

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