Losing to a 2-10 team, especially at a crucial stage, can be ‘demoralizing’ for any opponent. The Pittsburgh Steelers are undergoing a similar phase after losing to Bill Belichick’s struggling team, the New England Patriots, on Thursday. The popular NFL analyst, Stephen A. Smith displayed his concerns on the team’s performance, calling their offense “trash.”

Just a week ago, the Steelers were with a record of 7-4 along with being in a strong position for the AFC playoff race. With a relatively easy schedule, all they needed was to win home games against the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots. The franchise lost both games, making NFL history by becoming the first team ever to lose continuous games against opponents who have won significantly fewer than half of their games. The question of who to blame surrounds the side. Eyes turn to the Steelers’ offense, as even Stephen A. Smith pointed out.

Stephen A. Smith thinks the Steelers are demoralized?

The NFL analyst Stephen A. Smith talked about the Steelers and their Thursday night’s 18-21 loss to the Patriots on his show “First Take” on Friday morning. The 56-year-old mentioned that the team’s culture seems to have changed thoroughly. The once strong and proud Pittsburgh team now appears like a much weaker version of their former selves under 51-year-old head coach Mike Tomlin.

Targeting the team’s offense, Smith said, “If you’re watching this team, you’re going like this, ‘This offense is trash. We gotta come out here… we can’t afford to make any damn mistakes because they’re not going to do anything to help us.” He further continued saying that “Demoralization has kicked in like a virus, and it’s contaminated this franchise,” believing the franchise is unable to do well due to this serious concern surrounding them.

Meanwhile, the Steelers safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick, seemed in agreement with Smith as he also was frustrated with the team’s performance after the matchup. The 27-year-old mentioned in a post-game presser that some players in the team are expecting to make successful attempts without putting in the necessary effort on the game.

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However, coach Tomlin stated that they would surely turn things around this season, with matters still looking under control. But considering the ‘demoralization and offense’ aspects highlighted by Smith, many people are skeptical of Tomlin’s verdict.

What’s going wrong with the Pittsburgh Steelers?

The Steelers are going through a tough time. Their offense, led by Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett, has struggled, and the recent changes in coaching haven’t fixed the problems. The defense is dealing with injuries and has been under pressure to perform exceptionally well. In the latest game, the team seemed to be lacking the energy and urgency needed to compete at a high level.

Many even noted that the team appeared to lack fire compared to the Pats, who were not in playoff contention but still played hard. As per reports and suggestions going around the league, to turn things the opposite way, the team needs a change in mindset starting with the coach Mike Tomlin and the strategies and messages he delivers to his players.

Furthermore, some players have also highlighted the need for the offense to start stronger in games, as they have struggled in the first half. Besides that, the main issue seems to be inconsistent and injury-prone quarterback play, particularly with Pickett, who has left multiple games due to injuries.

What do you think of the concerns faced by the team? Let us know in the comments.

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