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Steelers have work to do in offseason

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By Dale Lolley

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

That thud you heard last Saturday night was the Steelers’ season coming to a bitter end, slammed to the ground like numerous defenders by Baltimore running back Derrick Henry.

The Ravens came out running early and often, with Lamar Jackson and Henry doing a number on the Steelers’ defense to the tune of 299 rushing yards. Actually, it was an even 300 yards on the ground until Jackson took a knee to end the game.

“They were the better team on Saturday night,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said earlier this week of the Ravens when he held his season-ending press conference. “I thought that was displayed and that is not comfortable to say, but it is truth. For us and for me, moving forward is having sober conversations such as that and then beginning the process of unearthing why.”

That conversation starts and ends with Jackson and Henry.

When the Steelers have beaten Jackson in the past, it has been because they forced him to throw the ball and into some mistakes. But in Henry, Jackson has an option that limits any potential mistakes because he’s a 250-pound hammer capable of beating an opposing defense into submission.

So, the key is having your own offense possess the football and score. And the Steelers didn’t do that in their last two meetings with Baltimore – certainly not enough – while they did do that in their first meeting with the Ravens, winning the time of possession and the game, 18-16.

Too much defense is bad in the postseason, especially when you’re playing against the likes of Jackson, Buffalo’s Josh Allen or Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes.

The winning teams last Saturday ran an average of 69 plays. The losing teams ran 45.

As a result, most of the games – and all of them in the AFC – were blowouts, so much so that the Steelers’ 28-14 loss was the closest of the three AFC first-round games. And it wasn’t as close as the scoreboard suggests.

The Steelers thought they had built a roster more capable of competing with the top teams in the AFC. But as they found out in 2021, when they lost to Kansas City, 2023 when they were defeated at Buffalo and in this season, there’s still work to be done.

That was what was disappointing to Tomlin.

“A component of that disappointment is I thought this collective was better positioned, maybe more so than in recent years, to not be in this similar place, but we are,” Tomlin said. “There’s obviously a lot of work to do. I’m energized in terms of beginning the process in doing it because I’m a competitor. I love this game and this business, even when it’s miserable.”

The Steelers need to continue building until they break through. They have a good team. But without a star quarterback, they’re not a great one.

• Figuring out what to do at quarterback is easily the biggest piece of the puzzle moving forward.

Given what will be available in free agency, potentially via trade and in the draft, re-signing Russell Wilson, Justin Fields or both is the safest way to go.

That duo combined to throw for more than 3,200 yards with 21 touchdown passes and six interceptions. They also combined to rush for seven scores.

It doesn’t sound like much when compared to the likes of Jackson, Allen or Mahomes, but if the Steelers continue to build up the roster around whatever quarterback they choose, it can work.

At least until a better option becomes available.

Adding offensive weapons is a must. If the early playoff games have shown anything, it’s that offensive firepower is critical.

The Steelers need another threat or two in the passing game as much as they need a running back who can be a home-run hitter.

This week’s games

Texans (plus 8½) at Chiefs: The Texans turned the ball over three times last week against the Chargers. Fortunately for them, they forced four themselves. If they’re that reckless with the ball in this game, they’ll get blown out. They might anyway. Take the Chiefs, 27-17.

Commanders (plus 9½) at Lions: The Commanders hung tough and won last week in Tampa Bay because Baker Mayfield put the ball on the ground. But the Lions are rested and get running back David Montgomery back for this game. Take the Lions, 38-24.

Rams (plus 6) at Eagles: Philadelphia’s defense will make the difference here. They’ll slow down the Los Angeles passing game and allow Saquon Barkley to handle the workload on offense. Six is a good number, though. Take the Eagles, 24-17.

Ravens (minus 1½) at Bills: Matchups make the fight and this is a bad matchup for the Bills, who don’t stop the run very well. The Ravens might not run for 299 yards, but they’ll have plenty of success on the ground. Josh Allen can always put on the Superman cape and pull this out, but so could Lamar Jackson. Weather could be a factor. Take the Ravens, 27-24.

Last week: 3-3 ATS, 4-2 straight up

Overall: 52-45-1 ATS; 66-32 straight up

Dale Lolley hosts The Drive on Steelers Nation Radio and writes a Sunday column for the Observer-Reporter.

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