The Pittsburgh Steelers played a brutal game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day, losing 29-10. The game started off about as bad as it could, as the Steelers offense couldn’t move the ball and the defense couldn’t slow down the Chiefs. Kansas City quickly jumped to an early lead, capitalizing on Pittsburgh's struggles, leaving the Steelers in an uphill battle right from the start.
The Steelers offense finally showed some life, but it wasn’t enough. A touchdown that could’ve sparked a comeback was called back due to a holding penalty on Darnell Washington. Then, trying to make up for lost yards, Russell Wilson threw an interception. The offense couldn’t find its rhythm, and despite hanging in through the first half, the Steelers quickly found themselves outmatched when the Chiefs picked up steam in the second half.
The vibes in the Steel City are sour, and it’s not any better inside the locker room. Wide receiver Calvin Austin III spoke with the media after the loss, expressing his frustration. He wasn’t happy with how the team performed, making it clear that they know they have a lot of work to do if they hope to turn things around before it’s too late.
"It’s more frustrating when you give it to them almost and you don’t put up a winning effort," Austin told the media.
Steelers fans were eager to watch their beloved team on Christmas Day, but what followed was one of the most disappointing performances in recent memory. The Steelers were out of the game for most of the second half, and the lack of competitiveness is what drove Austin to voice his frustrations. With defensive stars already calling out the team’s effort, Austin’s comments show the growing discontent in the locker room.
With the regular season winding down, the Steelers will face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18 to close out the year. While the sting of three straight losses is hard to shake, Steelers fans can quickly move past them if Pittsburgh can somehow find a way to make a deep postseason run. However, if they fall short again, the calls for the organization to part ways with Head Coach Mike Tomlin will only grow louder.
Steelers Are Quickly Losing Their Locker Room
It’s a frustrating time for the Steelers and their fans, but it’s far from over. A win over the Bengals would help ease the sour taste lingering after recent losses, and a deep playoff run could erase much of the disappointment. However, for now, Austin is fully justified in calling out his teammates’ effort and expressing his frustration. Fans can feel the tension, and it’s clear that things aren’t looking great inside Pittsburgh’s locker room at the moment.
Watching both the offense and defense crumble under adversity was truly disheartening. TJ Watt didn’t make his usual splash plays, George Pickens had a decent game but struggled to get enough separation, Wilson had no time in the pocket, and the defense was shredded. It was a complete disaster for Pittsburgh. Once again, the Steelers are left trying to shake off a brutal loss. They desperately need a win against the Bengals to avoid heading into the playoffs with zero momentum.
