This is going to be a different kind of Quick Yinzing for me. Normally when the Steelers lose I still have hope. I see areas we excelled in and areas we can improve in… this is different.

If you were to look at this game in a vacuum, nobody would believe this game was the AFC Championship. Nobody would think the Steelers won the AFC North. I hate writing this, but it’s true.

Yes, I know the Steelers have the pieces to make a Super Bowl run again next year. The Steelers are not doomed and will be good again. It’s just so disappointing that this knowledge comes based on prior games and what we already know about the team, not based on what we saw on the field tonight.

Offense

I’m already dreading having to hear all of the talking heads on television discuss whether this is the beginning of the end for Ben Roethlisberger. I wouldn’t pin this loss on him. Yes he made some poor throws but his wide receivers didn’t give him much help. Ben’s season ended with a whimper but I still think he has good years ahead of him.

Prior to this game, I didn’t think the Steelers would be targeting a wide receiver in the NFL draft. However, the lack of play-making ability was apparent versus the Patriots. Cobi Hamilton and Sammie Coates both had detrimental drops early on in the game. Eli Rogers lost a fumble when there was still a glimmer of hope. Darrius Heyward-Bey was invisible. I do think though the Steelers will draft a new wide receiver. Beyond Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, and Rogers, I wouldn’t say any wide receiver is a lock to make this roster. Assuming Bryant stays clean, his return next season will be huge. I wouldn’t even count out re-signing Markus Wheaton now too.

Losing Le’Veon Bell early on in the game was unfortunate, but I wouldn’t pin it as a reason for the loss. DeAngelo Williams played great when he was called upon.

Tight end is also a giant question mark heading into the offseason. Jesse James has impressed lately, but he needs a mate. I’m not entirely convinced Ladarius Green will be on the 53 man roster next season when considering his concussion history. James has been a reliable target, but he’s not exactly a play-maker.

Defense

I’m not sure where to even start with the defense to be honest. Did we even have a defense tonight? I’m not sure if the players, coaching staff, or both are to be blamed for this performance tonight. Something was off though.

When the Texans were hanging with the Patriots last week, it was because they were able to pressure Tom Brady. That didn’t happen tonight. Besides a great sack by Javon Hargrave early in the game, Brady had all the time in the world in the pocket. When that happens, it doesn’t matter how good your secondary is.

Our pass rush didn’t help our secondary, but they were incompetent tonight regardless. Brady found holes in the zone all night. Whether it was a 10 yard curl route for a first down or a deep ball for a touchdown, players always seemed to be open. I wouldn’t hit the panic button for our secondary though. We have young players like Artie Burns and Sean Davis who are still learning and developing.

I guess if I have anything positive to say it’s that our run defense played well. After losing Cam Heyward (which I’m still upset about) our reserve defensive lineman stepped up in the latter half of the season and played well. With Heyward returning next year and Javon Hargrave looking like a future star, our defensive line is set.

Final thoughts

This was just such a disappointing game. Not only because we lost, but because this game wasn’t even competitive. As I stated earlier, I know the Steelers are not doomed. It’s just unfortunate that this performance reflected a team in the gutter, not a team primed to make a Super Bowl run.

Thank you all for reading these Quick Yinzes all season, whether they were written by myself or Joe. Let’s just get through this time of sorrow and come back ready for a championship next year.

Go Steelers.