Steelers' Main Issue Over Massive 3-Game Skid Revealed Ahead Of Crucial Showdown With Bengals In Week 18

The Pittsburgh Steelers were riding high going into Week 15 and their game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Sure, the fact that they hadn't beaten the Eagles in Philadelphia for decades gave some fans pause, but the team was 10-3 and felt nearly invincible under Russell Wilson. However, they were far from invincible, and they didn't just lose to the Eagles; they dropped three games in 10 days and sent fans and the media spiraling. 

After losing to the Eagles, they played the Baltimore Ravens just a few days later and then the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day. These weren't close losses; they all had double-digit deficits. Pittsburgh made mistake after mistake and seemed to get away from everything that had been working for them earlier in the season. It felt like the Steelers just got manhandled. 

However, Chris Carter from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette said that these other teams didn't do anything special. The Steelers beat themselves. He joined the 93.7 The Fan Morning Show to talk about the losses and the upcoming final game of the regular season. Carter said several players, including DeShon Elliott, alluded to something he thinks many others are missing: the opponents weren't extraordinary, the Steelers shot themselves in the foot. 

"These are all things within the Steelers' control," said Carter. "The Chiefs and the Ravens and the Eagles in those games, they didn't line up in some magical plays that just made the Steelers just forget to cover. They just made mistakes that they normally didn't do. So it's just about getting back to playing the way that you know you can, and I think that's gonna be the big thing this week. I've called it all week, it's a get right game. This is your chance; you know you're in the playoffs; you wanna win this game so you can play the Texans and get the weakest of the division winners. This is your chance to say, 'All that? We put those things behind us.' And what better way to do that than against one of the best passing offenses in the NFL in Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and maybe Tee Higgins because he's questionable."

Thanks to those losses, the Steelers are currently underdogs, despite playing at home and having a better record than the 8-8 Bengals. The Steelers beat the Bengals in their first 2024 matchup, 44-38. It was a wild shootout, totally unusual for the AFC North. However, since that game, the Bengals have been on a hot streak, winning the four games since. 

The Steelers secured a playoff spot in Week 15, despite losing to the Eagles. On the other hand, the Bengals are desperately hoping for a miracle so they can squeak in. Part of what has to happen is beating Pittsburgh in the Steel City. 

Steelers' George Pickens Needs A Personal Get Right Week

Carter said the whole team needs a "get right week," but some players need it more than others. One of those players is wide receiver George Pickens. Now nearing the end of his third season, Pickens has been a polarizing figure in Pittsburgh. 

Pickens has been criticized lately for his in game effort, which has come up before. During the 2023 season, the Steelers also had a three-game losing streak, and Pickens took heat for not blocking for Jaylen Warren on a potential touchdown scoring play. After that game, they returned to Acrisure Stadium and faced the Bengals. Pickens had a great game, his best of his career. 

In that game, he had four receptions for 195 yards and two touchdowns. It is the only game in his professional career where he had two touchdowns. Carter thinks if he can have a similar game on Saturday, it will help set him up for success in the playoffs. 

Do you agree that the Steelers shot themselves in the foot? Click to comment below. 

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