New Data Confirms Steelers' Mike Tomlin Never Stood A Chance Against Green Bay

The Pittsburgh Steelers were eager to get back in the win column in Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers. However, their hopes were quickly dashed as they suffered a 35-25 home loss to Green Bay. Despite holding a 16-7 lead at halftime and having the ball to start the second half, the Steelers' defense completely collapsed. They couldn’t stop anything, allowing the Packers offense to rack up 454 yards of total offense, exposing glaring weaknesses on the defensive side of the ball.

NFL analytics expert Warren Sharp took a deep dive into the data, and his findings put Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin under a harsh spotlight. Sharp’s research highlighted that the defensive breakdowns weren’t just a matter of execution but also of strategy. The numbers suggested that the game plan from Tomlin and Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin was fundamentally flawed, leaving the team ill-prepared to contain Packers quarterback Jordan Love.

Sharp’s analysis revealed that many of the defensive calls played directly into Green Bay’s strengths. The Steelers failed to pressure Love effectively, overcommitted in the wrong areas, and allowed too many high-percentage passing opportunities. According to the data, there was almost no adjustment throughout the game, which turned what could have been a manageable lead into a rout. The report paints a brutal picture of Tomlin’s decision-making and raises serious questions about the direction of the Steelers’ defense under his leadership.

"On the season, Jordan Love played just two teams who blitzed at an above-average rate this year," Sharp said. "In those games against the Commanders and the Lions, he dominated statistically. Two of his best games of the entire season and was a perfect 4-0 touchdown to interception ratio. On the season, the Steelers blitzed even more than both of those teams. Think about this logically. What would you do? And then think what did Mike Tomlin do?"

Sharp made sure to highlight that Tomlin and Austin’s plan was to blitz the NFL’s number one quarterback in situations where he actually thrives against the blitz. 

Sharp had even pointed this out before the game, and that is exactly what happened. 

"Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers, did they adjust their defensive strategy and reduce the blitzing rate? Of course not," Sharp said. "The Steelers actually blitzed the Packers at the highest rate of any game for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season. I mean you cannot even make this up. The highest blitz rate against the team that is the best in the NFL against the blitz."

The question remains, how can Sharp predict this weeks in advance, yet Tomlin and Austin still call the exact plays they should have avoided? That is a major problem when a pundit can see what is coming, but the coaching staff seems completely blind to it.

Steelers' Defense Did Better When They Weren't Blitzing Jordan Love

As Sharp highlighted in his research, when the Steelers blitzed Love, he completed 12.7 yards per attempt, threw three touchdowns with no interceptions, and posted a 153 passer rating. When the Steelers did not blitz him, he only averaged 7.2 yards per attempt, threw no touchdowns, and had a 97 passer rating. 

All of those numbers clearly favored holding back the blitz, yet the Steelers blitzed anyway because that is just who they are. The team continues to be one of the most predictable defenses in the entire NFL.

What do you think the Steelers need to do to fix this defense? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.

#SteelerNation