The Pittsburgh Steelers opened the 2024 season with a strong 3-0 start, but now find themselves in a somewhat concerning situation. Offensive struggles have resurfaced, and the Steelers suffered their second consecutive loss after falling to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. Despite the offense coming alive to give Pittsburgh a late 17-13 lead, the Cowboys engineered a game-winning drive.
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Steelers' Justin Fields looks to pass against the Dallas Cowboys in 2024.
Facing 4th and goal with 26 seconds remaining, Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin used his third and final timeout. This decision left the Steelers in a do-or-die scenario, as they would have no timeouts left if the Cowboys scored. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott capitalized, throwing a game-winning touchdown to Jalen Tolbert.
Steelers fans had mixed reactions to Tomlin's timeout decision, with many questioning whether it should have been saved for Pittsburgh’s final drive. When asked about the timeout usage in the postgame interview, Tomlin firmly explained his reasoning.
"You know just trying to win the game man. I wanted to gather some information and see the structure that they came out in. Get ourselves in the right call. It was a fourth-down play. No hesitation about that. We had an opportunity to win the game right there. Forget what comes after."
Tomlin made it clear that calling the timeout in that situation was, in his view, the obvious choice.
AP
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin speaks to the media.
When pressed further about saving timeouts for the offense, he firmly reiterated that the play to win the game rested with the defense, not the offense.
"We took a timeout and we communicated. We got in a call that we liked and they won the down… It was a fourth down play. The game was right there."
Tomlin burned two timeouts during the Cowboys' final drive, clearly not concerned with saving them for the offense. He trusted the highest-paid defense in football to win the game. Unfortunately, that confidence was misplaced, leading to a disappointing ending to a poorly played game for Pittsburgh.
Steelers' Offense Failed The Defense
The Steelers entered the game against the Cowboys eager to get back in the win column. While this loss is a setback, Steeler Nation remains hopeful. The offense struggled throughout the game, and although the defense bent and even broke at times, they received little support from the offense.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Justin Fields looks to pass in Pittsburgh's Week 1 victory over the Atlanta Falcons during a game in 2024.
In the NFL, scoring points is essential, and the Steelers' offense failed to deliver. Tomlin placed his trust in the defense to make a stop and secure the win, but it wasn’t enough. While the defense failed on the final drive to get a stop, some would argue that the offense scoring 17 points isn't enough. The defense forced three turnovers and the offense didn't execute on those gifts.
This loss won't sit well with fans. It was a winnable game, and the fact that Pittsburgh's defense surrendered a score on the final drive is frustrating. However, the blame doesn’t rest solely on the defense—they fought hard enough to give the offense opportunities.
The real issue lies with the offense, which had multiple chances but failed to capitalize early. In the NFL, winning requires finishing drives with touchdowns, and the Steelers struggled to do that. At this point in the season, the offense still raises more questions than it provides answers.
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