The Steelers still lead the AFC North, but last week’s defeat raised big concerns. The Los Angeles Chargers thrashed them with a 25-10, marking Pittsburgh’s third loss in four games. Both their offense and defense rank among the league’s bottom five, yet Head Coach Mike Tomlin seems to be without answers. But fans weren’t the only ones who were scratching their heads seeing Tomlin, a former Steelers coach, openly call him out.

“He expected his team to play better. They did not. I don’t know what the reasons are. He probably doesn’t know what the reasons are right now,” Tony Dungy, who was the team’s defensive coordinator in the 1980s,  said on NFL on NBC after the game. While Dungy later said that Pittsburgh will find its way, many analysts have even disrespected Tomlin in the past for his confused approach.

After a close defeat against the Cincinnati Bengals in week 7, former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho couldn’t hold back. Voicing his opinion on his own YouTube channel, he said Pittsburgh should be “embarrassed” of itself. Acho specifically pointed out the defensive coaching for the loss.

“Mike Tomlin, eventually, you gotta humble yourself. Teryl Austin, defensive coordinator, you gotta humble yourself. Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, ya’ll gotta humble yourselves. It was not y’all’s day,” Acho said.

The frustration is understandable as the defense ranks at the 27th spot in the league, allowing 376 passing yards to opponents. It has managed 18 sacks, ranking the team in the lower middle order of the NFL. But this isn’t just about the defensive struggles. The offense led by veteran Aaron Rodgers has been dealing with a similar story.

Aaron Rodgers delivers season-worst performance on Sunday

Aaron Rodgers has had some solid performances, but Sunday wasn’t sweet for him. He delivered his worst-season outing against the Chargers, completing just 16 of 31 passes for 161 yards with 2 interceptions and a 50.6 passer rate (it usually hovers around 90). He was also sacked three times on Sunday, raising many questions about his ability to run the offense efficiently. After the game, Rodgers himself noted his struggles speaking out to the reporters.

“I missed, obviously, some throws, for sure,” Rodgers said. “And then we weren’t getting guys open, and just put it all together the times the guys were open. I missed some throws I usually make,” Rogers said.

“Our energy, and it starts with me, it wasn’t as great on offense. We were just kind of struggling a little bit,” Rodgers further added. “We had so many three-and-outs. We hurt ourselves with a couple of penalties, and I didn’t play good at all. I have to play better.”

The offense struggled to keep the drives alive, converting just 2 of 11 third downs against the Chargers. The receiving corps also looked thin, with top targets like DK Metcalf often tightly covered. Tight end Jonnu Smith and other receivers couldn’t make a big impact either. Now it is high time that Tomlin starts improving his accountability and makes some necessary changes in the play-calling. Otherwise, it won’t be too long before the Steelers not only lose their top spot in the division but also their hope to advance to the playoffs.