The Steelers' Locker Room Seriously Showed Some Cause For Concern After Loss To Ravens

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the most frustrating organizations in sports in recent years. The franchise hasn't won a playoff since the 2016 season, and it almost seems as if mediocrity has become acceptable. Pittsburgh has been in purgatory under Head Coach Mike Tomlin. The team is never bad enough to get a decent draft pick, but is always on the fringe of the playoffs. The six-game losing streak in the playoffs ties an active streak with the Miami Dolphins, which is just embarrassing for what was once a great organization.

The Steelers saw their season end on Saturday after falling to the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 28-14. The game was even further apart than the scoreboard displayed, as the defense had no answers and the offense struggled to look competent. At a certain point, all of the issues the Steelers are having has to be tabbed as coaching malpractice. 

The group ended the season on a five-game losing streak, and according to ESPN insider Brooke Pryor, the locker room seemed to be relieved the season was over.

"Three weeks ago I walked into the same locker room after the Steelers lost in a blowout to the Ravens in Week 16." Pryor said. "That locker room was silent, it was tense, it felt like a funeral. Last night was more like a last day of school after everyone bombed a final exam. There was some sense of relief that it was over."

Obviously the players on the roster are disappointed they weren't able to go on a run during the postseason, but it became obvious this team was not capable of doing that over the last four weeks of the regular season. In the playoffs you are playing a good team every single week, and the Steelers struggled when it came to beating some of the best teams in the NFL. The Steelers couldn't even remain competitive with some of the better teams throughout the league near the end of the year.

Pittsburgh clearly lacks talent, and the coaching has been questionable. It seems like the players are no longer buying in to whatever Tomlin is scheming up and planning. Some insiders have spoken about how it feels like the team is not buying into the game plans being presented to them, and it seems like that is pretty clear. Pryor spoke more about the feeling in the locker room after the loss.

"In talking with them it felt like I was hearing a lot of the same things that we've heard throughout the five-game losing streak that ended the season." Pryor said. "They didn't have answers, they don't know what is next, that's above their pay-grade."

It is extremely concerning that the answers from the players have remained the same throughout the five-game losing streak. That means nothing was actually fixed in an effort to get back on track, which falls directly on Tomlin. Surely he is putting in the effort to make changes, but even if his players cannot execute, that is on him. It is his job to find ways to win football games, especially in the postseason. He hasn't done a good job of that throughout his entire career.

Steelers Have Some Serious Offseason Questions That Need To Be Answered

Going into the 2025 offseason the Steelers have some questions that must be addressed. Obviously one is the future of Tomlin. Many fans want to see a change, but it doesn't seem like one will be made after recent reports. General Manager Omar Khan also needs to address the highest-paid defense in the NFL that he rosters. That group did not do its job down the stretch, and some very key players on that side of the ball should not be wearing the black and gold in 2025. 

What do you think about the reports coming out of the Steelers locker room? Let us know in the comments below!

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