The Steelers’ playoff collapse against the Ravens did sting. But it also struck a nerve in Pittsburgh. A 28-14 drubbing wasn’t merely a bad game. It just symbolized a season unraveling at the seams. And in true Mike Tomlin fashion, post-game comments fueled the fire. But before we get to that…

Caught in the eye of the storm was the team’s QB Russell Wilson—who finished the day throwing for 270 yards and two touchdowns—along with his coach. Amid calls from fans for firing them, and describing their post-game comments as “nails on a chalkboard”, it doesn’t seem like the duo are giving up just yet. Talking to reporters, Wilson exuded hope.

“The Pittsburgh Steelers organization, man. It’s been such a blessing to be here. The guys that we have, the organization, it’s truly first class. We love the city, obviously, and what it means, not just to me and Ciara and our family, but just also the National Football League. It’s a special place, with special guys. We’ve got a special coach in Coach Tomlin. We’ve got a special organization, special people, special players, special fanbase. It’s been truly a blessing in my life. It’s been one of the best years for me, personally, to be a Pittsburgh Steeler.”

“Obviously, I hope I’m here, and everything else. I trust God, whatever that is…I think that any time that you’re seeking something that we’re seeking, to win another Super Bowl here and everything else, there’s always highs and lows. I think that, more importantly, I believe in the guys that we have…The best part about the game was, the guys didn’t give up. I think that’s, in the National Football League, sometimes guys check out. And they didn’t. We didn’t. We gave it our all, we continued to fight, continued to swing. That’s why I love the guys on this team,” said the QB ahead of free agency this off-season.

Tomlin, on the other hand, didn’t twist his words when it came to assessing Wilson’s performance. “Like our effort, it wasn’t good enough,” he said, before adding, “I’m worried less about the regular season. In the single-elimination tournament, I’m really just disappointed in how we performed tonight, given the opportunity we had.”

However, he acknowledged the spirit his team showed. “I love the spirit and the fight, particularly out of the half,” the HC said. This underscores a rough first half that saw the Steelers blanked offensively. Wilson’s second-half touchdowns couldn’t undo the damage. And it left Pittsburgh fans questioning the team’s direction.

The loss extended Tomlin’s playoff win drought to six, as they won it last during the 2016 season. This essentially moves him closer to Marvin Lewis’ NFL record of seven consecutive playoff defeats, the second-worst streak in history. The Steelers were once at 10-3. The fans were elated, and the team was brimming with confidence. But they have now endured five straight losses to close the season. The late-season collapse raised eyebrows and reignited debates about Tomlin’s coaching strategy.

Top Comment by Jack

I could,easily be convinced the Steelers intentionally folded those last 2 games

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Debate

Wilson, for his part, reflected on his future with the team. “It’s been one of the best years for me, personally, to be a Pittsburgh Steeler,” he said. But his free agency looms large. And so does Pittsburgh’s quarterback uncertainty.

Even more concerning was the Ravens’ dominance in the ground game. Baltimore racked up 299 rushing yards—the eighth-highest total in NFL playoff history. And they controlled the ball for nearly 40 minutes. The Steelers’ defense has been the league’s most expensive, and this vaunted defense looked powerless in front of the surging Ravens.

A quarterback conundrum looms

Tomlin addressed the question of offseason changes beyond the immediate sting of the loss. Especially at the quarterback position. He declined to commit anything. “You know, I’m not ready to take a big-picture approach,” Mike Tomlin said. “I’m really assessing what happened today, and I’m certainly appreciative of their efforts tonight. I could say that largely for the entire season.”

That leaves backup Justin Fields as a tantalizing option. Fields is nearing the end of his contract. And he hasn’t seen much action. But he has shown potential in limited snaps. Fans are eager to see whether he can breathe life into an offense that hasn’t surpassed 20 points since Week 14. The Steelers’ offensive struggles have been glaring.

Turnovers and inefficiency plagued him during the five-game skid despite Wilson’s late-game efforts. This offseason could be pivotal in reshaping the team’s identity, with Tomlin already under scrutiny. But Mike Tomlin’s accountability only goes so far, as frustration is growing within the organization. “We got to figure out what’s the problem,” said safety DeShon Elliott. “We got to figure out to get better. Also, need to figure out how to get past that point. We got to figure out how to finish strong in seasons to go into the playoffs hot, ready to play playoff football.” 

All eyes are on the quarterback battle as Pittsburgh enters the offseason. Will Tomlin gamble on Justin Fields? Will Russell Wilson get another chance to lead the team? The Steelers’ playoff woes aren’t new. But this loss cuts deeper. Change feels inevitable with leadership in question and fans growing restless. The 2025 season could mark a turning point or yet another chapter of unfulfilled promise.