Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) is tackled by Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (96) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike Tomlin has spent the better part of the season — actually, check that, the past four-plus seasons — glossing over the Pittsburgh Steelers relentlessly stagnant offense by pointing to the scoreboard
Now, that might not even be enough.
Frustration internally seems to be mounting with each passing week, even with the Steelers (6-4) in the thick of the playoff mix as Thanksgiving looms.
Three weeks ago, right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor lost his starting job — likely for good — for popping off late in a listless loss to Jacksonville.
Two weeks ago wide receiver George Pickens had to be consoled when he wasn’t the one who caught the game-clinching touchdown pass against Tennessee
On Sunday in Cleveland, wide receiver Diontae Johnson had an extended exchange with Tomlin on the sideline between the third and fourth quarters of what eventually became a 13-10 loss to the Browns.
In the subdued postgame locker room, running back Najee Harris brushed off the team’s media team and continued to take questions in a compelling session filled with pregnant pauses where he seemed to be searching for the right thing to say mixed with candid revelations such as he’s getting “tired of this (stuff).
And while Tomlin has tried repeatedly to downplay any sign of dissatisfaction — likening things such as Pickens momentarily scrubbing his Instagram account of all Steelers-related posts recently as so much “reality TV,” the reality is it’s fair to start wondering how much longer he’s going to keep it all together.
While offensive coordinator Matt Canada has taken the brunt of the criticism as the weeks pass and Pittsburgh continues to sputter, the truth is there is plenty of blame to go around.