Steelers May Have Just Had The "Ultimate" [Mike] Tomlin Game In Crushing Defeat

Many fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers have picked up on a trend where the team will look amazing for a stint, but then they will go up against a bottom-feeder in the NFL and look extremely underwhelming on the field. Those have been dubbed as "Tomlin Games," as Head Coach Mike Tomlin has developed a reputation for allowing his team to play down to competition and lose games that it should win often. Those types of games are incredibly frustrating for fans, as they seem to make no sense most of the time.

Over the last few years, most of the "Tomlin Games" have specifically come against the Cleveland Browns, as the Steelers have not won in Northern Ohio since 2021. That proved to be true in Week 17 of 2025, as Pittsburgh could have clinched the division in that game and failed to do so. The Browns won by a final score of 13-6, and now they have to play a do-or-die game in Week 18 that will decide the AFC North against the Baltimore Ravens.

Even analysts have picked up on the idea of "Tomlin'ing." Insider Mike DeFabo went one step further than to just call it a "Tomlin Game."

"If the Steelers cannot beat the Ravens, though, this loss will linger," DeFabo said. "We’ll be looking back at Week 17 in Cleveland as not just another so-called 'Tomlin Special,' but perhaps the ultimate one."

That may be the ultimate one; DeFabo may be right. After fans chanted "Fire Tomlin," in Week 13, the Steelers rattled off three straight convincing wins to make people believe that this team maybe has turned the corner and developed into what they were expected to be in the preseason. However, those good vibes have gone right down the toilet as the team continues to reinforce narratives and frustrate their fans. 

The Steelers had some excuses after the game, like injuries to key weapons, as well as DK Metcalf's suspension. However, that does not explain why they ignored a wide-open receiver for a game-tying touchdown or why they went away from the hot hand on offense. That's what Tomlin and his team does often.

If the Steelers do lose in Week 18 and miss the playoffs, that loss to the Browns will be the one that everyone brings up. Most of the other losses are not shocking or wild, as five of their seven losses have come against playoff teams. However, when you have a chance to get the job done, you don't turtle up and play conservatively; you go out there and take what's rightfully yours. Instead, they reinforced stereotypes and lost to a 3-12 team. Fans fear this will ultimately cost them their season.

Steelers Have "Tomlin Games" At The Worst Possible Times

Some of Tomlin's defenders have tried to talk about how the narrative just isn't true, as every team occasionally has fits with bad teams. The problem with that is that the Steelers consistently lose against terrible teams, especially at the end of the season. They are statistically and historically awful when playing a team that has the chance to compete for the first overall pick. Even former Steelers players have picked up on the idea of "Tomlin Games."

What do you think about these "Tomlin Games," as well as this latest loss to the Browns being the ultimate one? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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