As they say, “When you’re down, those you least expect may be the first to walk away.” Very well said as the Pittsburgh Steelers and their QB, Russell Wilson couldn’t agree more. And for the record, the Ravens for sure know how to heat things up in the AFC North. That 34-17 triumph against the table toppers will surely hurt the Steelers’ morale, but it’s not just the loss that got them feeling stung. There’s more to it!

It’s the cryptic statements from the head coach, Mike Tomlin, that came right after the disastrous loss of the Pittsburgh team. And as they also say: ‘When life knocks you down, get back up with faith stronger than before,’ the QB believes it more than anyone could assume. In a recent Instagram story posted by Wilson, he shared a quote from the Bible (James 1:2-3 NIV). He wrote, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” Well, as it appears, Wilson wants the fans and his teammates to remain strong and find joy even during challenges.

Let’s talk about the game which is the ground zero of Wilson’s faith, shall we? Honestly, there’s no doubt that the Steelers missed their starters in the game. Apart from the cornerbacks Donte Jackson and Joey Porter Jr., the team missed out on the DT, Larry Ogunjobi, and safety, DeShon Elliott.

While Ogunjobi and Elliott were out of the week 16 action due to groin injuries, they’re likely to return when the Steelers take on the Chiefs. On the other hand, the CBs have their share of injuries and were benched due to a back injury and a knee issue, respectively.

And here’s the kicker: Mr. Unlimited looked more like Mr. Underwhelming against the Ravens today. The Baltimore team’s defense thrashed the Steelers and sacked their QB three times. However, Wilson still managed to complete 22 of 33 passes for 217 yards, achieving two touchdowns but also throwing one interception. However, the HC is not quite happy with the performance.

Mike Tomlin went sour on Russell Wilson’s teammates

As it turns out, the post-game conference is damaging the Steelers’ morale more than the crushing loss itself, thanks to coach Tomlin. “We didn’t do what we needed to do in order to secure victory today. So I congratulate the Ravens on their performance and the victory,” Tomlin stated in the conference. “Very specifically, we didn’t control the run game. We never did. And when you don’t, man, you gotta do some splash plays or win the turnover battle in a significant way. We didn’t do that either.”

No doubt Tomlin was frustrated with his team’s performance as he continued. “You gotta control the run, the line of scrimmage,” he further stated. “The turnover game is always significant in matchups like this. And we failed in both areas and so, when you do that, you should expect to lose.”

Looks like the defense is under Tomlin’s radar right about now. Well, if we look at the Ravens’ O-line, the HC’s statements pretty much justify the scenario here. The Ravens’ QB, Lamar Jackson completed 15 out of 23 attempts, rushed for 217 yards, and racked up three TD passes. These TD passes were thrown for 9, 14, and 7 yards. And with these, ladies and gentlemen, last season’s MVP has set a new franchise record with 37 TD passes this season.

On the other hand, how can you put the RB, Derrick Henry, out of the action? No wonder the running back is having one of the best seasons so far as he rushed for 162 yards and 24 carries. And with this, he’s accomplished 1,500 yards rushing this season, and don’t get shocked if I tell you he’s done it for the fourth time.

There are a few parts where the Pittsburgh team is struggling especially with the Playoffs around the corner. However, with 10-5, they’ve already entered the playoffs and now it’s time to watch what Russell Wilson and his faith bring in the post-season.