Steelers Rookie Defends Mike Tomlin From Fan Criticism After Week 13 Loss

A Pittsburgh Steelers defender wouldn’t let Mike Tomlin take the blame for Sunday’s 26-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Fans at Acrisure Stadium chanted “Fire Tomlin” during an ugly Week 13 shortcoming that saw the Steelers tally 166 yards while allowing 249 rushing yards. Rookie linebacker Jack Sawyer stood up for his head coach after the game, per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.

“Yeah, you’re frustrated because that’s (expletive) when people are saying that, but we’re not playing up to our standard,” Sawyer said. “…We need to take ownership as players and go out there and play a lot better.”

The Steelers possessed the ball for just 18 minutes on Sunday, averaging 3.9 yards per play behind a battered Aaron Rodgers. Meanwhile, James Cook bullied Pittsburgh on the ground en route to Buffalo scoring 23 second-half points.

Pittsburgh missed an opportunity to seize first place in the AFC North before a monumental Week 14 showdown against the Baltimore Ravens. The adversaries will instead each enter Sunday with 6-6 records, a disappointment given Pittsburgh’s 4-1 start.

Tomlin has consistently kept the Steelers in contention since taking the job in 2007, but a recent slump has raised questions over the franchise’s future. They now rank No. 27 in offense and No. 28 in defense before a game that could determine whether they salvage a playoff spot.

The Steelers reportedly won’t listen to the disgruntled fans. ESPN insider Adam Schefter said on Monday’s “The Pat McAfee Show” that the Steelers have no plans to fire Tomlin.

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