The Pittsburgh Steelers found themselves in a storm of disappointment on Sunday, both in terms of weather and performance, as they succumbed to a 24–10 defeat against the Arizona Cardinals. The game, marred by heavy rains and lightning that led to two delays, mirrored the Steelers’ lackluster showing.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, however, refused to let external factors serve as a shield for his team’s subpar display. In a candid postgame assessment, Tomlin didn’t mince words, characterizing the Steelers’ performance as akin to “JV football” against the Cardinals.
Addressing reporters, Tomlin dissected the myriad mistakes that plagued the Steelers during the 14-point defeat, taking full responsibility for the lackluster outing.
“That was a horrible day at the office. We didn’t do much right in that game, to be quite honest with you,” Tomlin declared. “We have to own that, obviously, starting first and foremost with me. Just losing football. It really was.”
The laundry list of errors included a high number of penalties, both pre-snap and operational, coupled with issues like bad snaps that Tomlin characterized as reflective of “JV football in a lot of ways.”
Despite outgaining the Cardinals, a departure from their usual form, the Steelers faltered in the efficiency statistics that had been their stronghold earlier in the season. The team managed to convert only 4 of 11 third-down attempts, scored touchdowns on just 1 of 3 red zone possessions, and incurred nine penalties for 77 yards, holding a minus-1 turnover margin.
In stark contrast, the Cardinals showcased superior efficiency, going 10-for-17 on third down, scoring on all three of their red zone possessions, and notably avoiding any turnovers. The victory marked Arizona’s first on the road this season.
As the Steelers weathered both literal and metaphorical storms, Tomlin’s straightforward assessment underscores the need for accountability and improvement as they navigate the challenges ahead in the season.
