The Pittsburgh Steelers fell to, 35-25 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 8. It was a game that got off to a promising start but ultimately disintegrated in the second half, and after the game, head coach Mike Tomlin didn’t hold back in assessing the defeat.

After the game, Tomlin was asked about the ref’s call on the third quarter. The head coach said, “I thought it was an error, but you can’t get it back. Explanations mean very little.”

Tomlin’s response showed his straightforwardness. He addressed the team’s shortcomings and acknowledged a possible officiating error, but quickly dismissed it as a non-factor. The head coach of the Steelers did not want his team or the media to cling to the moment, one that he obviously felt was subordinate to the Steelers’ collapse after halftime.

The Steelers were up 16-7 at the halftime break and appeared to be in full control. But the second half was a different story. Green Bay came out of the gates flying, scoring 28 points over the final two quarters to erase Pittsburgh’s lead and take the game away from the Steelers.

The momentum changed on the Steelers’ first series of plays following halftime. On third down, Aaron Rodgers’ pass dropped incomplete, but just after a Packers defender appeared to jump offsides way earlier than the snap. Rodgers visibly looked upset; no penalty flag was thrown. The officials gathered briefly, then upheld that there would be no penalty.

That blown call forced Pittsburgh to punt. Green Bay capitalized and drove down the field on a nine-play, 90-yard touchdown drive. Momentum then completely turned in the Packers’ favor from there. The Steelers’ offense stalled, their defense lost its footing, and the Packers never relinquished it again.

Drama from controversy over the officiating was not the sole origin. Fights also erupted over officiating issues midway through the third quarter after a Steelers punt. The special teams had a brawl on the field.

Somehow, the situation was calmed down. The Steelers, who had dominated early, were obviously unraveling at the seams, execution, coolness, all of it. The fight seemed to symbolize their collapse: a team losing control as the Packers asserted themselves with composure.

Mike Tomlin on Steelers’ loss

When asked where things went wrong, Tomlin didn’t hesitate to take ownership. “We just have to be better, and it starts with the position we’re putting guys in,” he said. For the veteran coach, it wasn’t just about one game; it was about consistency.

The numbers were grim. Jordan Love completed 20 consecutive passes with ease, and tight end Tucker Kraft set a record for most yards after catch by a tight end over a span of eight years.

For a franchise built on defensive toughness, the trend has been sobering. The Steelers have surrendered 30 or more points in four of their first seven games this season, something which hasn’t occurred in Pittsburgh since 2003 when Bill Cowher’s team finished 6-10.

Eighteen seasons into Tomlin’s tenure, his defense is experiencing one of its most challenging periods in history. Missed tackles, poor tackling, and no pass rush have repeatedly taken games away for them. Tomlin has assumed the blame, but it will not get any easier from here, especially with a defense historically charged with establishing the tone.

Sunday’s defeat placed Pittsburgh even deeper into unfamiliar territory, with worries about performance as well as discipline. While Tomlin’s comments regarding the officiating were diplomatic and measured, his tone left one thing certain: the Steelers’ problems are internal.