SteelerFury Combined Forum

After another 4th quarter collapse by the defense last night, I dug into the numbers. This season, the Steelers have given up whopping 174 points in in the final quarter - 10 per game on average. They have zero 4th quarter shutouts and gave up a season high of 21 to Green Bay. 10 times this year (including 3 of the last 4) they've given up 10 or more in the 4th. Only a couple of these could really be considered garbage time - Miami game, for example. It can't all be explained away by protecting leads - the Steelers have collapsed in all kinds of situations - protecting leads, playing catch up, close games, etc.

In the other 3 quarters, they have given up just 213 points, which is excellent. Projected over all 4 quarters, this would be good enough to lead the NFL, just ahead of the Texans.

The morbid starts on offense and late collapses on defense are not a good combination. The middle of the game seems to be fine for the most part.

Could be described as ‘easing in’ then ‘fading out’.

Steelafan77 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 05, 2026 3:16 pm

Could be described as ‘easing in’ then ‘fading out’.

haha, nice!

TTP wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 05, 2026 3:12 pm

After another 4th quarter collapse by the defense last night, I dug into the numbers. This season, the Steelers have given up whopping 174 points in in the final quarter - 10 per game on average. The have zero 4th quarter shutouts and gave up a season high of 21 to Green Bay. 10 times this year (including 3 of the last 4) they've given up 10 or more in the 4th. Only a couple of these could really be considered garbage time - Miami game, for example. It can't all be explained away by protecting leads - the Steelers have collapsed in all kinds of situations - protecting leads, playing catch up, close games, etc.

In the other 3 quarters, they have given up just 213 points, which is excellent. Projected over all 4 quarters, this would be good enough to lead the NFL, just ahead of the Texans.

The morbid starts on offense and late collapses on defense are not a good combination. The middle of the game seems to be fine for the most part.

This team is really hard team to evaluate. Take out all of the history we have and know about Tomlin and this team feels different. Yes, they've played very poorly late in games defensively. That has led to many examples of squandering half time leads. Which in itself is kind of surprising as they are notoriously slow starters to games offensively. Its shocking to think they've been in position to squander so many half time leads against legitimately strong teams (Seattle, Chicago, Buffalo, Green Bay). But they have reversed several bad trends as of late and I get the feeling that they may actually have fixed a lot of things. They have won 4 of 5. The wins look less fluky and not just because of turnover luck. They are no longer getting destroyed in TOP. No longer getting out gained in yardage. Running game looks legitimately good now. Run defense is much improved. Evaluating them fairly I'd say they've fixed a lot of things. And I'd say that is uncommon for Tomlin coached Steeler teams. So squint hard enough and forget the past sins of the coach and you could be a believer that this team is capable of making corrections to the secondary breakdowns and see a path that leads this team to the Super Bowl. I'm not a true believer. Tomlin is still Tomlin. His flawed philosophy will sink them. But the team at least appears way more formidable and no longer outmatched by the rest of the playoff field.

Not sure what you and B2B are smoking.

This is a bad team. Not a team "capable of beating anyone", simply a bad team in a league where anyone is capable of beating themselves. Yes, this team occasionally looks decent when the other team is beating itself badly, but it's not because Tomlin's Steelers are good or even capable of it.

Like eating sawdust. Put a pile of shit next to it and suddenly the sawdust seems kind of actually decent.

The Steelers not only cannot beat anyone even in the weaker AFC, they most certainly are not stringing together 4 straight games of that.

Lets be honest, we were gifted another win, mistakes expected by opponent, Tomlin rock fight, using up all the karma Tomlin arranged with the devil.............. we lost that game at least 5 times

DumlinBumlinStumlin wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 05, 2026 4:24 pm

Lets be honest, we were gifted another win, mistakes expected by opponent, Tomlin rock fight, using up all the karma Tomlin arranged with the devil.............. we lost that game at least 5 times

And Harbaugh out Tomlined Tomlin. Tomlin is definitely a better coach than Harbaugh....low bar.

They let the Rats run the same fucking play for a TD twice, wide open WR sprinting down the middle of the field.

If a QB is better than Lamar, they might take advantage of that more often.

Yet another fluky ridiculous win, but it is what it is. LBs and D line fought hard.

LakecrestSteeler wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 05, 2026 5:55 pm

DumlinBumlinStumlin wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 05, 2026 4:24 pm

Lets be honest, we were gifted another win, mistakes expected by opponent, Tomlin rock fight, using up all the karma Tomlin arranged with the devil.............. we lost that game at least 5 times

And Harbaugh out Tomlined Tomlin. Tomlin is definitely a better coach than Harbaugh....low bar.

they both suck

LakecrestSteeler wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 05, 2026 5:55 pm

DumlinBumlinStumlin wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 05, 2026 4:24 pm

Lets be honest, we were gifted another win, mistakes expected by opponent, Tomlin rock fight, using up all the karma Tomlin arranged with the devil.............. we lost that game at least 5 times

And Harbaugh out Tomlined Tomlin. Tomlin is definitely a better coach than Harbaugh....low bar.

What I didn't get about the Rats D was why didn't they have a RB spy on passing downs as that's pretty much what the O was doing. Check downs to RB's.

langer wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 05, 2026 6:09 pm

They let the Rats run the same fucking play for a TD twice, wide open WR sprinting down the middle of the field.

If a QB is better than Lamar, they might take advantage of that more often.

Yet another fluky ridiculous win, but it is what it is. LBs and D line fought hard.

they did, kudos. They got some leadership by veterans. OLine great and Rodgers veteran skill

Had Ben and Holmes not bailed him out Jibbs would be known for blowing the largest 4th quarter lead in SB history and not have a ring.

Jibba has been putting putrid 4th quarter defense “on tape” since he’s been here.

No lead is safe with this clown peacocking on the sideline.

955876 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 05, 2026 6:22 pm

Had Ben and Holmes not bailed him out Jibbs would be known for blowing the largest 4th quarter lead in SB history and not have a ring.

Jibba has been putting putrid 4th quarter defense “on tape” since he’s been here.

No lead is safe with this clown peacocking on the sideline.

100%

If it feels historically bad, it's because it was.

They tied the franchise record for blown leads at half this year. We never got the one more to set the record, unfortunately.

.Kodiak wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 05, 2026 4:01 pm

Not sure what you and B2B are smoking.

This is a bad team. Not a team "capable of beating anyone", simply a bad team in a league where anyone is capable of beating themselves. Yes, this team occasionally looks decent when the other team is beating itself badly, but it's not because Tomlin's Steelers are good or even capable of it.

Like eating sawdust. Put a pile of shit next to it and suddenly the sawdust seems kind of actually decent.

Agreed...and I will never look at sawdust the same again so thanks for that..lol...I think!

They are a good team in the same way Tampa and Carolina are "good teams"...So much mediocrity in the league leads to some teams rising slightly above another.

I enjoyed the win...I still root for them in every single game and I know it's counter productive to the long term health of the franchise. But I am basically with Swiss who stated long ago that Tomlin will leave when he wants and not a second before..the Pope etc.. So we might as well "enjoy" the ride to ruin...Ben Johnson ain't walking in that doorway...

TTP wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 05, 2026 3:12 pm

After another 4th quarter collapse by the defense last night, I dug into the numbers. This season, the Steelers have given up whopping 174 points in in the final quarter - 10 per game on average. They have zero 4th quarter shutouts and gave up a season high of 21 to Green Bay. 10 times this year (including 3 of the last 4) they've given up 10 or more in the 4th. Only a couple of these could really be considered garbage time - Miami game, for example. It can't all be explained away by protecting leads - the Steelers have collapsed in all kinds of situations - protecting leads, playing catch up, close games, etc.

In the other 3 quarters, they have given up just 213 points, which is excellent. Projected over all 4 quarters, this would be good enough to lead the NFL, just ahead of the Texans.

The morbid starts on offense and late collapses on defense are not a good combination. The middle of the game seems to be fine for the most part.

Do you think it is simply age that tires out late in games? We do have a lot of old vets to say the least.

Yeah, that's a solid hypothesis.

There were a couple games, however, when the Steelers absolutely controlled the 3rd quarter, the defense was barely on the field, and they still melted down.