It's about the fundamentals: Coach Mike Tomlin didn't hold in his thoughts after the Steelers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, 29-10, on Christmas Day at Acrisure Stadium.
"That sucked, to be blunt," said Tomlin at the start of his postgame press conference. "Not the type of ball we want to play, and really kind of eerily similar to our last performance in that we're not doing the fundamental things well enough.
"We're turning the ball over. We're not getting turnovers. That hasn't been a recipe for us, but it has been of late. Minus two or whatever we were in this game, you're not giving yourself a chance, particularly turning the ball over in the red zone."
Quarterback Russell Wilson threw one interception, while tight end Pat Freiermuth had a fumble that the Chiefs recovered. The Steelers were unable to take advantage of multiple opportunities to take advantage of Chiefs miscues and take the ball away.
"We had balls on the ground early. We had a ball on the ground on the punt team early. We didn't cover it," said Tomlin. "We had a ball tipped up in the air that could have provided our offense a short field. We didn't catch it. We're not being opportunistic on the defense, on the special teams side when given an opportunity. We had balls on the ground in turnover opportunities a week ago that we didn't capitalize on, and then we're not securing them on offense.
"You're running on the beach when you're performing like that, coupled with lack of situational play making, red zone defense, making people settle for field goals as opposed to touchdowns, the games are going to look like that. We've got to score more than 10 points against an outfit like that.
"So, you can look at it from a lot of angles. The bottom line is junior varsity is not good enough. We've got to own that. But we've also got to look at what it is we need to do differently. We're not going to continue to do the same things and hope for a different result. That doesn't seem sharp to me. So, we're going to take a hard look at this. We've got a couple extra days before we get back into it. We're going to take a look at it and make whatever necessary changes we need to make in the totality of this thing, because again, that doesn't feel good. It doesn't look good. That's just the truth and reality of it."
The loss is the Steelers third straight loss, not where they want to be at this point of the season as the playoffs are on the horizon. But the issues they are having are ones Tomlin feels like they can correct, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to get things right.
"It's fundamental things," said Tomlin. "We've got to look at ourselves and own it. We've got to be committed to making whatever changes are necessary in an effort to improve the outcome. It's as simple as that.
"We don't blink. In terms of the schematics, in terms of the division of labor, I'm open to whatever change is necessary in an effort to change the outcome."
And there is no wavering in Tomlin's confidence that they will get back on track.
"It's what we do. It's what I love to do," said Tomlin. "Even on days like today. I love the game. I love working with that group in there.
"We're not performing the way that we need to. We'll keep working."
Don't stop believing: The Steelers offense didn't produce the type of performance they were aiming for against the Kansas City Chiefs, with Russell Wilson completing 23 of 37 passes for 202 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.
Wilson said they need to clean things up before they take on the Cincinnati Bengals next week, and then move on to the postseason. But he is confident they can do just that, knowing adversity always finds its way into a season.
"There's going to be adversity in every season, and it comes in different spaces and places at different times," said Wilson. "I'm betting on our guys and who we are and how we're going to respond.
"I really believe in who we are, the character of guys, the mentality that we have. It's been a tough road, obviously, the past three weeks, and we haven't been able to overcome some of the challenges along the way. We've got to make that a good thing for us.
"At the end of the day, when you look back at it all and when we get the chance to play in the playoffs, it becomes 0-0. That's the truth of the playoffs and the opportunity that we have.
"So, I think before we get there, our belief can't waver. As a matter of fact, if anything, we've got to turn it up even more on our belief, and I think that's a key part to how we respond in the midst of adversity. Adversity can break you down. The adversity can challenge you in such a way that you start thinking negatively, start speaking negatively, start thinking woe is me, this or that, or the adversity can challenge you in such a way that there's growth, and then adversity can challenge you in such a way that you try to find the next moment.
"I think that with any game, any next moment, you have to believe that this one is going to be the best one, and how we do that is going to be by really great fundamentals, really great communication, really great execution. We did some really good things, but we also did a lot of bad in a way."
One thing the offense needs to do is find a way to put more points on the board. In the last three games, all losses, the Steelers haven't been able to put 20 points on the board.
"I think it's going to be all about us making plays, staying on schedule," said Wilson. "I think that's the name of the game, especially offensively. We're going to have to be able to do that, and moving forward, obviously, we've got a big one at home next week, and that one is going to matter to us in a lot of ways.
"It's going to matter in a lot of ways because we want to catch that momentum going into the playoffs and how we play the right way. You have to be singularly focused."
Keep on working: Linebacker T.J. Watt had one message for how to get back on track following the loss to the Chiefs on Wednesday.
"We need to work more," said Watt.
It was the same message when asked how to get more pressure on the quarterback, something that didn't happen against the Chiefs as the defense recorded zero sacks against Patrick Mahomes.
"We need to continue to work," said Watt. "Look ourselves in the mirror and get back to work."
And one thing is for sure, Watt will be the first one in line when it comes to doing whatever is needed to right the ship headed into the regular season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals and the playoffs.
"I'm excited to get back to work no matter the outcome," said Watt. "I love football. I love the process. I know there's a lot of guys in the locker room that do, also.
"We just need to get back to work. We just have to go back to work and go from there.
"We just need to get back to work, honestly. Just need to continue to work. We just need to continue to find ways to get better, and as the season goes on, the margins are smaller. We just need to continue to work and go from there."
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