Through three quarters, Pittsburgh had 90 yards and seven first downs. They finished with 166 yards and 10 first downs.
Mind you, this disappointing offensive performance came against a Bills team that had allowed an average of 28.3 points per game over the last three contests. The ’85 Bears they are not.
Rodgers was bloodied on the first play of the third quarter, on a drive where the 41-year-old tried to extend the game, was sacked, lost the ball and ended up with a lacerated nose. Rodgers said after the loss that he hoped it wasn’t broken.
Rodgers went 10-of-21 for 117 yards passing and a 65.0 passer rating Sunday — replaced by Mason Rudolph for one third-quarter drive and the final possession (Rudolph: 0-3, 1 INT).
The four-time NFL MVP, who has looked like a shell of himself as of late and can’t stretch the field with this passing attack, suggested two ways to get everyone on the same page to even out defenses.
“When there’s film meetings, everybody shows up and when I look at a route, you go the right way,” Rodgers said. “We have meetings every week. We have other opportunities outside of the facility and [I] looking forward to seeing all the boys there.”
The seven points scored were the fewest by the Steelers in a game since a 22-6 loss in Week 4, 2023, to the Houston Texans on the road, with Kenny Pickett under center.
Things got so bad in Pittsburgh that fans actually booed when Renegade played and “Fire Tomlin” chants echoed around the stadium.
“Man, I share their frustration tonight,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “We didn’t do enough, and that’s just the reality of it… I know how restless and frustrated I was, so I assume they were in the same state we were in.”
Even if this looks like the low point of the long Tomlin era, the Steelers are still tied atop the AFC North at 6-6, with a Week 14 date against the Baltimore Ravens for the division lead. Things can still turn around — if the offense can score some points.