The Pittsburgh Steelers put on an all-time stinker on Sunday night against the Los Angeles Chargers. Many pundits thought this contest would produce some decent football, but the first half was a tough watch for any football fan. The Steelers had just three points for most of the game, and virtually anything that could go wrong, did go wrong in the 25-10 loss.
Nick Smith / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Mike Tomlin looks discouraged during a tough loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025.
Now, the Steelers move to 5-4 on the season, and the Chargers got to 7-3 on the year. Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin spoke with the media following the loss. He was asked why Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith went away from the run game when Jaylen Warren was averaging five yards per carry. His excuse was odd and didn’t seem to make much sense.
Air Warren! pic.twitter.com/lbp5MzxBpZ
— Obviously (Not) Tomlin (@Tomlin_Sense) November 10, 2025
Tomlin explained that the game script didn’t lend itself to running the ball, suggesting the team needed to pass more to play catch-up, but that logic didn’t exactly line up with what fans saw on the field. The Steelers trailed by just one score for much of the contest and were never truly out of striking distance.
"Just on the grass too long," Tomlin said after the loss on Sunday night. "We didn't convert enough third downs and the time of possession was what it was. The collectives and individuals wear down when you are not standing up."
Instead of leaning on their most consistent weapon, Pittsburgh opted to throw the ball in obvious passing situations, leading to stalled drives and wasted opportunities.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers running backs Jaylen Warren and Kaleb Johnson stand aside one another during training camp in Latrobe, PA.
For a team built on physicality and balance, abandoning the ground game so early felt completely out of character. However, that's not at all how Tomlin saw it. He was asked once more about not running the ball much when it was working well with Warren. Tomlin was not happy to be asked again.
"Guys, like when you are 0 for 9 or 0 for 10 on third down, you are not gonna have enough snaps," Tomlin said in a fiery tone. "Like we have been over that discussion a lot — next!"
The response didn’t sit well with fans or analysts, many of whom questioned the coaching staff’s approach and play-calling philosophy. Warren, rookie Kaleb Johnson, and Kenneth Gainwell have all shown flashes of potential this season, yet Pittsburgh seems to lose sight of that identity far too often.
When the offense is struggling to find rhythm and the quarterback play is inconsistent, taking the ball out of the running backs’ hands only makes things harder. It seems as if, when he's protecting the football, Warren is a big play waiting to happen. Maybe it's time for Smith to start using Warren like the San Francisco 49ers have had to use Christian McCaffrey.
Steelers' Offense And Defense Can't Get Close To Being On Same Page
The defense actually did a stand-up job for the most part on Sunday night. They were in the face of Justin Herbert and made life difficult for the Chargers until they ultimately broke down.
Nick Smith / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers tries to evade pressure against the Los Angeles Chargers during the 2025 season.
However, the Steelers weren’t going to win the game with the way Aaron Rodgers and the offense played on Sunday evening. While the Steelers defense was ready to show up, the Steelers offense could not.
Tomlin wasn’t very happy with the media after this loss, but the truth is the fan base isn’t very happy with him either. The Steelers still have the 2025 season very much alive, but this offensive showing was worrisome.
How do you feel about how Mike Tomlin and his staff coached this contest on Sunday night against the Chargers? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.
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