Steelers Offense Toils To Near-Historic Low In Costly Week 13 Loss

The Pittsburgh Steelers couldn’t ignite any offensive spark during Sunday’s 26-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

With Aaron Rodgers playing through a wrist injury, the Steelers mustered 166 yards at Acrisure Stadium. It marked one of the worst offensive performances of Mike Tomlin’s 19-year head coaching tenure.

ESPN’s Brooke Pryor noted, courtesy of ESPN Insights, that Sunday represented the offense’s third-fewest yards gained in a game under Tomlin. They tallied 163 yards in last year’s Week 15 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and 127 in a 2010 win over the Tennessee Titans.

Week 13 was the offense’s lowest yardage output at home since Tomlin replaced Bill Cowher in 2007. Fans responded by voicing their frustrations, booing the traditional playing of “Renegade” early in the fourth quarter.

Rodgers returned from a one-game absence to complete 10 of 21 passes for 117 yards and a lost fumble that led to a Bills touchdown. The 41-year-old quarterback briefly exited the game after taking a big hit from Joey Bosa on the turnover.

In his place, Mason Rudolph threw two incompletions and an interception on the ensuing drive. The Bills turned that takeaway into another touchdown, rewriting a 7-3 halftime deficit into a 16-7 lead less than midway through the third quarter.

Rodgers returned to the game, but Pittsburgh’s next possession ended in a three-and-out. Down 23-7 early in the fourth, the Steelers failed to convert a 4th-and-2 at the 7-yard line.

The ground game wasn’t much help either, gaining 58 rushing yards on 18 attempts. On the other hand, James Cook single-handedly outgained the Steelers with 177 scrimmage yards and posted 144 of the Buffalo’s 249 rushing yards.

Josh Allen amassed only 123 passing yards, but he added his 11th rushing touchdown of the season. The Bills converted eight of 15 third downs and two fourth-down attempts, controlling possession for 41 minutes and 59 seconds.

Sunday’s loss drops the Steelers to 6-6 after a 4-1 start. They’ll play the Baltimore Ravens for first place in the AFC North next Sunday.

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