NFL Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers Stink Against Losing Teams

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Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

You can almost mark it on the calendar every year. Just search the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ schedule and look for the weakest opponents, and then check off a loss for the Steelers. Since 2012, if the Steelers have had a game every season against a losing team where they have struggled. For some reason, the team just can’t get themselves up for games against inferior opponents.

I think this directly falls on the shoulders of head coach Mike Tomlin and team leader Ben Roethlisberger. Back in Week 4, the Steelers had a golden opportunity to go to 3-1 against a winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers team at home. The Bucs were coming off an embarrassing 56 to 14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The Steelers squandered a late lead and gave the Bucs their only win so far this season.

In Week 10 against a New York Jets team that hadn’t won since Week 1. The Steelers started off flat, a typical trait in their games against losing teams. Before Big Ben also threw two costly interceptions in Jets territory that killed some positive drives. Much like other games against sub-.500 teams, the Steelers seemed to lose focus and became uninterested in the eventual loss.

Tomlin and his team are  getting a reputation of playing down to these types of opponents. Is Tomlin unable to inspire these players anymore? Do these players just not listen to him? It feels like the Steelers lack leadership and accountability, and that leads to major letdowns against subpar teams.

Since 2012, the Steelers are 7-11 against losing teams. That includes losses to the Oakland Raiders (twice), the Minnesota Vikings and the Tennessee Titans. Those three teams have 41 combined wins since 2012, and Oakland only has eight (two of them vs, Pittsburgh).

Even in the seven wins against losing teams, the Steelers have not typically played well. For example, the Steelers barely got by a winless Jacksonville Jaguars team in Week 4 this season . The 17-9 win was sealed by a late pick-six by Brian McCain. In the seven wins versus losing teams since 2012, the Steelers have never scored more than 27 points.

When the Denver Broncos play bad teams, they dominate. It’s much of the same story for the New England Patriots. These two teams have no problems with bad teams and unsurprisingly, they usually end up in the playoffs.

The bottom line is that these losing teams are treating games against the Steelers like their Super Bowl. The Steelers better start treating each week with that same mentality, or they will find themselves watching the playoffs from home for the third straight year.

Nate Vandergrift is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter@natevandergrift, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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