The transition period for the Pittsburgh Steelers after Mike Tomlin’s tenure encountered an early challenge. In the season opener, Pittsburgh secured an easy victory against the Atlanta Falcons. However, their performance took a negative turn in Week 2 with a disappointing 20-3 loss to the New England Patriots.
The Steelers’ offense faced difficulties, amassing only 235 yards. Jaylen Warren, the running back, emerged as the sole player to exceed 44 yards. The lackluster performance led to a critical commentary from Tomlin during NBC’s ‘Football Night in America.’
“From my perspective, they don’t have a place to hang their hat,” stated Tomlin. “They haven’t established the run, they’re not performing well on third down…and to make matters worse, they’re not getting yards in chunks. Sometimes when you get yards in chunks, it can cover up some other inadequacies. They can’t solve all their problems, but they better solve at least one of these problems — and really soon.”
Tomlin wasn’t alone in his criticism. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers also expressed discontent over the team’s offensive efforts. He specifically highlighted the need for Head Coach Mike McCarthy to call plays that offer Pittsburgh competitive opportunities.
“In a game like today where there wasn’t a lot of flow to it, we need to be better — and it starts with me,” Rodgers remarked. “[I need to be better about] making sure Mike knows what’s working, what’s not working, our coaches know, and so we can call stuff that we feel like has a better chance (to win).”
Compared to last season under Tomlin, when injuries plagued the team, Pittsburgh’s offense was statistically more robust. Tomlin’s squad averaged 316.9 yards and 23.4 points per game, whereas McCarthy’s team has managed only 249.5 yards and 11.5 points per game in their first two matches.