Let the main things be the main things. I used this quote when the Pittsburgh Steelers were on a roll, beating the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals. Despite two heartbreaking losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens, things haven’t changed. It was definitely hard to hold onto the “L” shape. The Eagles and Ravens dominated the Steelers at the line of scrimmage. More physically. Something more fundamental. To be honest, we are a superior team with a clear difference.
That’s not what the Steelers’ season will be remembered for. Whether Pittsburgh continues to prove the pundits wrong or flinches against top opponents, all that matters is the playoffs.
That is the measure of success. For this organization, making it to the postseason was the easy part. It’s much more difficult to win there. Measurable progress means advancing to the divisional round. Anything that doesn’t meet that standard same steelers. However, depending on how it got there, the wrapping paper can be a little better or worse.
The season has been full of ups and downs, as there have been times in the past when the favorites for the regular season championship were put on the brakes and still lost in the playoffs. Learning tough lessons from those losses and winning the Wild Card weekend regardless of the opponent, the Steelers made progress. That’s basically it.
Of course, losing these games doesn’t give Pittsburgh confidence in what they can do in the playoffs. But the NFL is so volatile from week to week that all it takes is one good game plan, one big play, and improved health to move forward.
Health is a key factor for the Steelers. No team is completely healthy, but Pittsburgh is healthier than most. The Detroit Lions are 13-2 despite having such a defensive MASH unit, and expect Alan Alda to show up and play rush end. But there’s no question that WR George Pickens and SS Deshon Elliott are difference-makers in shaping how the Steelers win and how they defend. Picken’s absence means defenses stack the box and bottle up the run. Not having Elliott means fewer subpackages and keeping FS Minkah Fitzpatrick near the line, hurting the team in coverage. Those two should be back in time for the playoffs, and possibly as early as Christmas Day.
This is how we remember seasons in Pittsburgh. It doesn’t matter that the logic against Mike Tomlin was that he won in the regular season, and if the sore spot on his resume is that he hasn’t won in the playoffs recently, that’s a fair criticism, but even if the Steelers That’s true even if you lose. Last season wasn’t a success as Mason Rudolph led Pittsburgh to the playoffs with three straight regular season wins. I remember doing it once in snowy Buffalo.
It’s not important to make excuses for your losses. The Steelers are showing cracks in the face of their toughest test. It hurts to give up the No. 1 spot, the longest in more than 30 years, to the AFC North. It’s not ideal to play on this postseason road trip, but it’s worth pointing out that the Steelers have upset their last two home playoff games against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns. All we can do is evaluate the here and now, but don’t forget what the end goal is. Not today. Around January.
Pittsburgh punched its ticket to the playoffs. They did what they always do. Now their real test awaits them. What matters is the major headlines of what 2024 will look like. The Steelers’ season should always be viewed in terms of postseason victory or disaster. This is no different.
