Real Problem For Steelers' Offense Uncovered After Blowout Loss To Bills

The Pittsburgh Steelers lost on Sunday evening to the Buffalo Bills by a score of 26-7, and it was one of the team's worst offensive showings this year overall. The group scored its least amount of points on the 2025 season, and that lone touchdown was set up by a turnover that was forced by the defense. The offense could barely move the ball down the field, and that is proven by the time of possession metrics and the total yardage gained in the contest. The Steelers really only had one other chance to put points on the board, but the team turned it over on downs deep in Buffalo's territory late in the game.

Both sides of the ball were atrocious for the Steelers at certain points in the game, but the offense was consistently bad throughout the matchup with Buffalo. The group put up just 166 total yards in the contest and turned the ball over twice. Aaron Rodgers barely eclipsed 100 passing yards, which could have been expected as he entered the contest banged up and left the game for an entire possession. Insider Brian Batko hosted a mailbag on Monday morning, where he was asked about the recent run at offensive coordinator for Pittsburgh and how none of them have been all that great -- but Batko pointed the finger elsewhere.

"Are we completely sure Arthur Smith is as bad as you are saying?" Batko asked. "Hear me on this real quick. I swear I'm not trying to come across as an apologist for the OC, but food for thought. You just laid out three consecutive play-callers who have presided over largely moribund offenses. It seems logical to me to suggest that they're all working under the same approach set by the head coach. I feel like people always forget that the 2020 Titans had AJ Brown go for 1,075 receiving yards and Corey Davis had 984. If the man hates using wide receivers, he had a funny way of showing it."

The person submitting the question mentioned Arthur Smith, Matt Canada, and Randy Fichtner, who were all heavily scrutinized during their time as the play-caller in Pittsburgh. The question was based around the idea that Head Coach Mike Tomlin does not hire great offensive coordinators, but Batko believed the play-callers may be held back by the head coach.

Smith was considered one of the best offensive coordinators in the league when he was with the Tennessee Titans, and now he is looked at as one of the worst, especially over the last month or so of the season. A big reason for that has been the struggles in the passing game. Kenneth Gainwell is currently the team's second-leading receiver, which is not a mark of a good passing game.

The offense has been conservative and struggled with Smith, Canada, and Fichtner, and the common denominator is Tomlin running the show. The head coach has a say in game planning and the offensive approach on game days, and Batko is insinuating that is what is holding the group back in Pittsburgh.

Steelers Arguably Must Clean House To Compete With The Rest Of The NFL

The Steelers are playing what feels like five years behind the rest of the NFL, especially on the offensive side of the football. It has felt that way over the last several years, across different offensive play-callers. Many feel the coaching staff needs to be completely gutted. Some youth needs to be injected into the team and the staff. Pittsburgh is nowhere near being Super Bowl-competitive, as the offense has been stuck in mud for half of the games in the 2025 season. Serious changes need to come during the 2026 offseason or else fans should just prepare for more of the same in the near future.

What do you think about Tomlin's role in the offense? Let us know in the comments below!

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