Emotional Turn of Events: The Pittsburgh Steelers have reached a new low, as head coach Mike Tomlin was suspended following the team’s loss to the Browns.

Analyst Criticizes Steelers’ Mike Tomlin Following Loss to Browns

The Pittsburgh Steelers dropped a divisional game to the Cleveland Browns in Week 12, a loss that came as a surprise given the Browns’ poor 3-8 record and the snowy conditions.

On paper, the Steelers had no excuse for losing to Cleveland, and much of the blame has been directed toward various aspects of the team’s performance. Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette shifted much of the responsibility to head coach Mike Tomlin, suggesting his decisions didn’t stand up well as the game unfolded. During an interview with Donny Chedrick on 93.7 The Fan, Fittipaldo pointed to Tomlin’s coaching choices as a key factor in the loss.

“I think, without a doubt, it was the coaching,” Fittipaldo said. “And we’re going to discuss some of the personnel moves and those fourth-down decisions, but overall, I thought Mike Tomlin showed the Browns a lack of respect early in the game.”

One key moment that highlighted Tomlin’s missteps came on Cleveland’s final drive. On 3rd-and-2 from the Steelers’ 25-yard line, Tomlin accepted an illegal touching penalty on offensive lineman Ethan Pocic, which pushed the Browns back five yards for a redo rather than allowing it to be 4th-and-2. At the time, Pittsburgh led 19-17, and with the weather conditions, it seemed likely Cleveland would keep their offense on the field. If Tomlin had declined the penalty, a stop on fourth down would have likely secured the win for the Steelers.