The Pittsburgh Steelers prove their skeptics right: They look like a deceitful Super Bowl contender.
After the season started 11-0, there were repeated problems in Pittsburgh’s two lost games that brought them out of the AFC’s No. 1. In all fairness, they haven’t played well since the middle of the season as the Steelers ‘last four wins against the backups of the Baltimore Ravens, the Bengals, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ third quarterback (Jake Luton) and someone named Garrett Gilbert went to quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. You haven’t beaten a good opponent since week 8.
The most worrying problem for Mike Tomlin’s team is the dwindling efficiency of passing, the greatest strength of a one-dimensional offense. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger added those concerns with his worst performance of the season in week 14, completing only 56 percent of his passes for just 187 yards on 37 throws, and some of his receivers (especially Diontae Johnson) have recurring problems with football. This didn’t help the veteran quarterback as Roethlisberger’s yards per pass have steadily decreased over the past four weeks and he has flipped the ball five times on the same stretch. This is not a formula for winning a Super Bowl.
After the eye test, Roethlisberger’s litter in Buffalo was not missing a zip. He looked like an older quarterback, much like Drew Brees last season. That’s a major concern in the playoffs. Without a strong run game – an average of 2.7 yards per carry in Week 14 – to mask some of the issues, the Steelers don’t look like they can keep up with the top teams at the AFC, as we’ve seen against it the bills on Sunday. Her defense is still as good as any other, but it’s thinner than usual due to two key injuries on the linebacker.
Pittsburgh has been dubbed the worst 11-0 team in NFL history by some, looking tough at the time but suddenly looking pretty legitimate.
The story goes on
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has been looking for his age lately. (Photo by Timothy T. Ludwig / Getty Images)
Chase Young is becoming a real superstar
I don’t know how many people saw the Washington-San Francisco game, but those who saw an absolutely dominant game on the defensive end of Chase Young. Young was unblockable against the 49ers and collected six tackles, two presses, a sack, a forced fumble, a touchdown and a struck pass that led to an interception.
Young is fulfilling his potential after a slow start to his rookie campaign, playing at the top tier of the Edge Pass rushers in his first season. He looks just as handsome as Joey or Nick Bosa, both from the same alma mater (Ohio State) as him and the best player on the field and the main reason Washington finished first in the NFC East with the win. Young got in shape and has become the obvious choice for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Stallions find much-needed firepower
The Colts had their most complete game of the season in beating the Raiders on Sunday, but more importantly, the appearance of rookie RB Jonathan Taylor has raised the team’s cap into the playoffs.
It has been painfully obvious to watch the Colts this season that their players have lacked juice on offensive despite a very well-built squad. They dived and dived in the passing game and slowly churned up yards in the running game. But in the past few weeks the # 1 receiver, TY Hilton, has rediscovered his usual level of play, the offensive line was great and Taylor showed his breakthrough speed by racing 150 yards (7.5 yards per carry) in 20 touches! ) and two touchdowns against the Raiders. He added a whole new element to the offense.
The combination of Hilton, Taylor and rookie receiver Michael Pittman gives Indianapolis the opportunity to make more noise in the playoffs. Though not quite on par with Kansas City, they are getting better each week and are at the top of the AFC’s top second division teams alongside Tennessee and Buffalo.
Bengals have to make a change of coach
Adam Gase and the New York Jets make the most of the headlines for their ineptitude – and rightly so – but the Cincinnati Bengals quietly have one of the most ineffective head coaches in the NFL. Zac Taylor has shown nothing in two seasons coaching the Bengals, as his 4-21-1 record shows, and it’s hard to see where progress is being made other than what rookie QB Joe Burrow is ahead of his Could mask injury.
There is no basis for a winning program. The offensive and defensive lines are cruel. They have no strengths outside the wide receiver and the team looked hopeless in their loss to the lowly Dallas Cowboys. Taylor was a questionable attitude from the start, having never played offensive games as the offensive coordinator behind Sean McVay at the Rams before, and many were curious to see if he’d even qualified for the position. His early staff reflected someone with few connections in the league, and two years later he shows no qualities of a promising coach.
The Bengals, which are one of the cheaper organizations in the league, tend to gamble off contracts but they would be better off cutting their losses now and admitting defeat. Find a better coaching perspective to mate with Burrow like the Cleveland Browns did by hiring Kevin Stefanski this year after many coaching smells. There’s little reason to bring Taylor back for a third season.
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