Koll: Looks like Steelers are headed for wasted season, in the worst way

There was a glimmer of hope. Maybe it was more than that. Maybe it was more like a full ray of sunshine bursting through the otherwise ominous storm clouds that the Pittsburgh Steelers were turning a corner.

They had finally moved on from their beleaguered and oftentimes overmatched offensive coordinator and although they only scored 16 points, they put together an offensive performance to be proud of with 421 total yards.

Not only that, but with the win the Steelers were sitting at 7-4 in a muddled and mangled AFC playoff landscape with the 2-10 Cardinals and the now 2-10 Patriots next on the schedule, both at home. Just simply taking care of business against these “lesser” teams would have put them at 9-4 and firmly in the playoff picture. In fact, it would have put them in the race for the #1 seed.

Coulda, woulda, shoulda.

Instead, the Steelers (most likely) took the Cardinals lightly. Yes, I believe Jaylen Warren and Diontae Johnson when they say that’s what happened despite Cam Heyward and Mitch Trubisky’s denial of it. If you don’t buy anything that Johnson says anymore after that give up play on the Warren fumble last week, I get it. But what does Warren have to gain by making up that claim? I think it’s just a guy calling out what he sees.

Instead, they embarrassed themselves in one of Mike Tomlin’s worst losses in his coaching tenure. Instead, they showed that they are a mediocre team capable of losing to any team in the league and capable of looking worse than any team in the league. Instead…and this might be the worst part…they lost the game and lost their 1st round starting QB Kenny Pickett who they are still trying to evaluate for the future. That’s the real kick in the pants here.

It’s bad enough that the Steelers may or may not make the playoffs. It’s bad enough that they look to be headed for yet another 9-8 season, continuing to live in the NFL’s middle ground. It’s bad enough they are wasting yet another season of Minkah Fitzpatrick, TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith’s prime, along with what’s left of Cam Heyward’s career.