STEELERS WEEK 17: FROM CONTROL TO CHAOS

- Tyler Yasembousky, Contributor

This is why I can never let myself be optimistic about the Pittsburgh Steelers.

I told my friends — all Steelers fans — last week to watch this team lose to the Browns. A three-win Browns team. A game that would’ve clinched the AFC North. And sure enough, here we are.

Why did I feel that way? Because this is what Pittsburgh does. When the moment is there for the taking, they choke. Every time.

Now the Steelers head into Week 18 needing a must-win against a brutal Ravens team just to keep their season alive. And honestly? I fully expect a loss and an early vacation.

And even if they sneak into the playoffs, who really cares? We’ve seen this movie before. One and done. Again.

That’s the most frustrating part of all of this.

Yes, the Steelers extended the streak — 19 straight winning seasons. That’s impressive. But at what point does this organization stop celebrating “not being bad” and start being tired of being stuck in the middle?

Every year it’s the same story: nine or ten wins, a playoff berth, and an early exit. Rinse. Repeat. Football purgatory.

I’d honestly rather be where the New York Giants are right now. Sure, they only won three games, but they have a quarterback of the future, a running back of the future, and a true WR1. On top of that, they’ll add another top-10 pick to keep building.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh stays exactly the same — just good enough to avoid change, never bad enough to reset.

I’ve appreciated having Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh. I’ve been a fan of his forever, and it was genuinely cool to see him in black and gold. And I have nothing but respect for Mike Tomlin. He’s one of the best coaches in the NFL.

But sometimes, even great partnerships run their course.

I actually think Tomlin would be perfect for a team like the Giants — a franchise that needs stability and leadership. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh desperately needs the opposite: a young, offensive-minded head coach who can change the culture entirely.

The Steelers need a real rebuild. Not a “reload.” A rebuild. Three or four wins. A top-five pick. A real shot at drafting the next franchise quarterback — the next Ben Roethlisberger.

I know some fans will scream that this is blasphemy. But doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is insanity. And that’s been Pittsburgh football for nearly two decades now.

This organization used to care about Super Bowls — not winning seasons. If that’s no longer the goal, then what’s the point?

The Steelers are one of the greatest franchises in NFL history. They aren’t supposed to be “happy to be here.” It’s time to remember what it used to mean to wear the black and gold.

Now, Week 18 brings a must-win matchup against Baltimore. The NFL flexed it to Sunday Night Football. The biggest stage. The highest stakes.

And yeah — I fully expect Baltimore to win and move on. Frankly, it’s probably better for the league. Lamar Jackson in prime time is a better sell than whatever the fifth seed ends up being.

And while I’m not a conspiracy guy, someone explain to me how that final play against Cleveland wasn’t defensive pass interference. The defender never turned his head once.

I’ll assume it was just terrible officiating — not a call from upstairs. But it’s funny how it all worked out, isn’t it?

Either way, we’ll find out next week whether this was the Steelers’ final game of the season — or just another chapter in the same old story.

See you then.