Steelers at Falcons Game 1 Comments & Complaints

[Dan Smith--BYU]

Tomlin has Boz on his 500K ante fantasy team IMHO.

[Jobu]

Browns booing the fuck out of the team.

Cowboys kicker (now best in the league other than Boswell) nails a 66 yarder but doesn’t count because of a delay or game.

Yep Mike McCarthy letting the play clock run out, with 4 seconds in the half and sitting on two time outs.
He’s not letting Tomlin win that dumbest coach award without a fight.
But I wish he would’ve let Aubrey try the 71 yarder.

Browns fans letting the boos rain down. Watson looking like hot garbage! I fucking love it. Browns fan misery is such sweet music!

[bradshaw2ben]

If it is unwatchable don’t watch. The incessant negativity and rooting against the team your supposedly a fan of boggles my mind.

Do I want the team to win by 30 every week? Sure. But I don’t whine cry and doom and gloom when they don’t win they way I want them to. A win is a win.

Here we go!


All you haters rooting for a loss, go F yourselves!

All you lovers rooting for unwatchable football and no ability to win in the postseason… we’ll you’ll get what you hope for.

You are underestimating HOW MUCH I HATE LOSING. It's just that I hate PLAYOFF losing and SUPER BOWL losing wayyyyy more than regular season losing, especially when they seem completely uninterested in getting better on offense or doing anything more than just enough to eke out wins with three turnovers when you hold the other team to roughly zero yards in the second half.

Hey, they won what is 99% certain to be a meaningless game. Great! I'm glad you're still unjaded enough to enjoy it.

[bradshaw2ben]

If it is unwatchable don’t watch. The incessant negativity and rooting against the team your supposedly a fan of boggles my mind.

Do I want the team to win by 30 every week? Sure. But I don’t whine cry and doom and gloom when they don’t win they way I want them to. A win is a win.

All you lovers rooting for unwatchable football and no ability to win in the postseason… we’ll you’ll get what you hope for.

This is B2B's site, so I think it's a stretch to question his fandom. I agree with B2B- I find it hard to get excited about these type of wins these days, know that all they do is prop up a dead-end philosophy. It's been hard to watch the Steelers slowly turn into the Pirates.

This kind of win further cements the asinine philosophy of this coach and organization and makes it less likely we'll ever escape the purgatory of mediocrity. I'm rooting for Super Bowls and, at minimum contending for winning a Super Bowl. Anything that is working against that is my enemy.

[bradshaw2ben]

If it is unwatchable don’t watch. The incessant negativity and rooting against the team your supposedly a fan of boggles my mind.

Do I want the team to win by 30 every week? Sure. But I don’t whine cry and doom and gloom when they don’t win they way I want them to. A win is a win.

This is B2B's site, so I think it's a stretch to question his fandom. I agree with B2B- I find it hard to get excited about these type of wins these days, know that all they do is prop up a dead-end philosophy. It's been hard to watch the Steelers slowly turn into the Pirates.

this is true. its hard to watch such offense as this....but a win from your team should always be enjoyed. both can be true

Winning the battle, losing the war. Do you support rooting for losing the war?

[sinceiwas4]

taking solace in a loss because at least it moves us into a better draft position is one thing. actively rooting for losses is quite another

[bradshaw2ben]

This is going to be the exciting QB competition since Mason vs. Duck.

Fields is in a new system and played pretty damn well.

They will open it up for him more when he gets comfortable.

He didn't turn it over once.

How 'bout we look at his salary vs Kirk Cousins?

And take a look at Caleb Williams's stat line today. Chicago is where QB's go to die. Tomlin is Tomlin when it comes to game planning, but that Chicago system is so pathetic. I don't judge Fields off his stats there in Chicago.

You can just judge him from his game starting in Pittsburgh, if you want to. He was the same exact guy who can't play.

[bradshaw2ben]

Cheering for losses make no sense. Teams that lose, more often than not, continue to lose. Expecting to win for losing sounds quite asinine from my perspective.

Teams that win typically do so because of doing the right things. I cannot recall a scenario where a program of - losing week-in and week-out - was part of a well conceived plan for long term success.

In what reality does the above work? If a team had that sort of authority over winning, then there would be no reason to prove it through failure first. Just start winning now.

I'm not suggesting they aimlessly lose. I'm suggesting they attempt––even half-heartedly––to score on offense and attack on early downs and generally play offense for real, no matter what happens with the score. Build toward being a team that can win a playoff game or find out which players can't help you score points.

[bradshaw2ben]

taking solace in a loss because at least it moves us into a better draft position is one thing. actively rooting for losses is quite another

I just want to see some progress, not doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results... it's not only insanity, it's making me insane. I'm not ROOTING for losing, I just don't care about losing or winning if they just keep doing this same bullshit over and over and thinking their shit doesn't stink.

[sinceiwas4]

yeah i dont think Tomlin will ever try to win on offense at the cost of attrition football defense wins so until hes gone i root for the best we can expect which is ugly wins based on defense and making fewer mistakes on offense i'd love an actual offense to root for, but given what we have i will root for wins how we can get them. once Tomlin retires, maybe the next defensive minded coach they hire wont be so rigidly against winning on offense but until then i'll root for the ugly wins and hope we get lucky. tomorrow isnt guaranteed. for any of us.

[K_C_]

Justin Fields > DeRAPE Watson

[daikyu]

The Watson signing may go down as the worst personnel decision in the history of the league

[W&M_Steeler]

The Watson signing may go down as the worst personnel decision in the history of the league

That trade destroyed the Browns' 2020s Super Bowl window and likely set them back a decade, not to mention destroyed their public reputation. Meanwhile, Baker looks like a top-15 QB with Tampa. It's pretty safe to say the Browns would have been much better off keeping Baker and the three 1st round picks they traded for Deshaun.

The Trey Lance trade is also one of the worst trades of all time. I don't understand why the 49ers thought that it was wise to use multiple first round picks on a guy who had barely even played QB. They lucked out with Brock Purdy, but perhaps one of those lost 1st round picks would have made a difference in last year's Super Bowl.

[Orangesteel]

Baker Mayfield looks great.

Another guy the Steelers should have targeted but NOPE!

The braintrust for this team is a collective of goddamn buffoons.

[steelmann58]

Why didn’t challenge the down call on Pickens ?

[Jobu]

Why didn’t challenge the down call on Pickens ?

Is this rhetorical?

[Mick]

https://x.com/joelmlevin/status/1832849072367288595

[Texas Steel]

Cheering for losses make no sense. Teams that lose, more often than not, continue to lose. Expecting to win for losing sounds quite asinine from my perspective.

Teams that win typically do so because of doing the right things. I cannot recall a scenario where a program of - losing week-in and week-out - was part of a well conceived plan for long term success.

In what reality does the above work? If a team had that sort of authority over winning, then there would be no reason to prove it through failure first. Just start winning now.

Remember "Suck for Luck"? How well did that work out for them?

It worked out pretty well in the beginning, until Luck decided he didn't want to play anymore.

Still proves my point that tanking a season to take shot at the future usually doesn't work out. There's always the chance your plans won't work out, so why deliberately piss off your fan base and current players to tank a season?

[Gonzo]

stop saying sucking for a draft pick is a bad strategy: that isn’t the point of those complaining and seems like intentional misstatement.

what is wanted is either — tomlin gone or an owner to (like with cowher a bit) demand a change in approach. and even cowher changed when it was required

[Gonzo]

it is very hard to argue IMO - that the current strategic approach isnt quite obvious and a failure.

it is a cookie cutter purely formulaic approach that won’t even leave any room for some variation.

seems to me to be a plan geared towards keeping jobs and keeping cash flowing .,, not winning championships

[swissvale72]

Diontae Johnson vs Donte Jackson?

So far I like this trade.

So far you're right, KC....and I'm glad of it. That said, surprised Pickens has this kind of day with being the only de facto wide on the field

[LakecrestSteeler]

Fields played way above Caleb Williams today with worse weapons. Fields day today was better than anything in lil Ken’s career. Imagine if he was actually entrenched as the starter and they game planned for him. My major concern with Fields is ball security and reading defenses. If they’re smart and use his mobility to limit his reads, they’re on to something. Look at the Ravens with Lamar. He has the same issues as Fields.

So who's the starter next week?

If we had a real NFL offense that valued the passing game and scoring TDs I’d start Wilson. With the ball control and run heavy scheme that Smith and Tomlin want, Fields is a better fit. It’s better for the franchise to see if Fields is the future because Wilson is too old to be it.

Who will they start next week? Who knows, but I’m sure it will be a debate internally if Wilson is healthy.

If Justin Fields was in a couple of the collapsed pockets that Kirk Cousins was, the ones in which he threw bad passes, Fields would get the pass off because he is 6’3”.

Wilson is going to have those same collapsed pockets and he is going to send flutter balls with his 5’10” height, 5’11” with long cleats because his arms will be hit. 6’3” makes a huge difference standing in the pocket.

You can learn a lot about Wilson by watching Cousins.

Tomlin will start Fields for what Perch listed above.

[steelmann58]

It’s week 1. But maybe they try to give thomas a call could it hurt at this point as it was not a big day for the wideouts.

[tbsteel]

If it is unwatchable don’t watch. The incessant negativity and rooting against the team your supposedly a fan of boggles my mind.

Do I want the team to win by 30 every week? Sure. But I don’t whine cry and doom and gloom when they don’t win they way I want them to. A win is a win.

This is B2B's site, so I think it's a stretch to question his fandom. I agree with B2B- I find it hard to get excited about these type of wins these days, know that all they do is prop up a dead-end philosophy. It's been hard to watch the Steelers slowly turn into the Pirates.

This kind of win further cements the asinine philosophy of this coach and organization and makes it less likely we'll ever escape the purgatory of mediocrity. I'm rooting for Super Bowls and, at minimum contending for winning a Super Bowl. Anything that is working against that is my enemy.

B2B, you are my spirit animal on this subject.

This is arguably the most important part of this whole argument.

Look, it's a message board and I admittedly enjoy poking the bear a bit and laying it on thick at times, but all window dressing aside, at the core I am completely on board with going through a season from hell where this team bottoms out as much as possible under Tomlin so as to facilitate necessary changes... which mainly is the man at the top, and maybe just as importantly, the failed philosophy that permeates throughout this organization. And if that takes more than one year of doing that, so be it. But this team won't be a legitimate contender for another Lombardi until that happens.

I've long been a Tomlin defender. He will be in the HOF some day, it's a lock. I love a lot of aspects of his style. But watching another Steelers re-run today where they make throwing the football look like some caveman discovering fire and trying to figure out WTF to do with it, fail to crack 300 yards of offense which looks like will continue to be the theme this year, the U-shaped abortive offense where the majority of passes are at or near the LOS and the middle of the field is avoided like the plague while they try the occasional deep sideline shots to Pickens... I just can't take it anymore. It's driving me insane. And Tomlin and his crew smugly think that this is the course we need to be on. And why shouldn't they? As long as the fans keep backing and supporting them like most do on here, and as along as they can keep grinding out these 8-9 win seasons and sneak in with their Make a Wish playoff appearances that give the mindless masses a week of illogical hope before the Steelers are embarrassed yet again, it's not going to change. The only hope for the big changes needed to help pull us out of the purgatory of mediocrity is for this year to get bad, and ugly, in a hurry. I won't enjoy it (well, maybe a lit bit), but it's what is needed.

[SteelerDayTrader]

Cheering for losses make no sense. Teams that lose, more often than not, continue to lose. Expecting to win for losing sounds quite asinine from my perspective.

Teams that win typically do so because of doing the right things. I cannot recall a scenario where a program of - losing week-in and week-out - was part of a well conceived plan for long term success.

In what reality does the above work? If a team had that sort of authority over winning, then there would be no reason to prove it through failure first. Just start winning now.

I'm not suggesting they aimlessly lose. I'm suggesting they attempt––even half-heartedly––to score on offense and attack on early downs and generally play offense for real, no matter what happens with the score. Build toward being a team that can win a playoff game or find out which players can't help you score points.

Good point

[K_C_]

Diontae Johnson vs Donte Jackson?

So far I like this trade.

So far you're right, KC....and I'm glad of it. That said, surprised Pickens has this kind of day with being the only de facto wide on the field

I think the other WR’s will emerge as the season progresses (especially Roman Wilson when he’s healthy) but as conservative as Arthur Smith’s offense was yesterday,
expect lots of throws to the backs, a few to Freiermuth and simply pounding the rock.

With the way that defense was balling yesterday and Boswell was kicking, in this offense I think they’re okay at WR without Johnson.

Gonna be interesting to see what the offense looks like with Russell Wilson at QB vs Fields. Rushing Wilson back too quickly could be disastrous though so I hope they ride Fields a few more weeks until that calf is 100%.

[SteelerDayTrader]

This is B2B's site, so I think it's a stretch to question his fandom. I agree with B2B- I find it hard to get excited about these type of wins these days, know that all they do is prop up a dead-end philosophy. It's been hard to watch the Steelers slowly turn into the Pirates.

This kind of win further cements the asinine philosophy of this coach and organization and makes it less likely we'll ever escape the purgatory of mediocrity. I'm rooting for Super Bowls and, at minimum contending for winning a Super Bowl. Anything that is working against that is my enemy.

B2B, you are my spirit animal on this subject.

This is arguably the most important part of this whole argument.

Look, it's a message board and I admittedly enjoy poking the bear a bit and laying it on thick at times, but all window dressing aside, at the core I am completely on board with going through a season from hell where this team bottoms out as much as possible under Tomlin so as to facilitate necessary changes... which mainly is the man at the top, and maybe just as importantly, the failed philosophy that permeates throughout this organization. And if that takes more than one year of doing that, so be it. But this team won't be a legitimate contender for another Lombardi until that happens.

I've long been a Tomlin defender. He will be in the HOF some day, it's a lock. I love a lot of aspects of his style. But watching another Steelers re-run today where they make throwing the football look like some caveman discovering fire and trying to figure out WTF to do with it, fail to crack 300 yards of offense which looks like will continue to be the theme this year, the U-shaped abortive offense where the majority of passes are at or near the LOS and the middle of the field is avoided like the plague while they try the occasional deep sideline shots to Pickens... I just can't take it anymore. It's driving me insane. And Tomlin and his crew smugly think that this is the course we need to be on. And why shouldn't they? As long as the fans keep backing and supporting them like most do on here, and as along as they can keep grinding out these 8-9 win seasons and sneak in with their Make a Wish playoff appearances that give the mindless masses a week of illogical hope before the Steelers are embarrassed yet again, it's not going to change. The only hope for the big changes needed to help pull us out of the purgatory of mediocrity is for this year to get bad, and ugly, in a hurry. I won't enjoy it (well, maybe a lit bit), but it's what is needed.

Here’s the thing tho

Tomlin is NEVER going to bottom out the way you want him to. Never.

Why ? His approach to football centers around not bottoming out. That’s his goal. Don’t bottom out and maybe just maybe you’ll catch lightning in a bottle at the end of the season. That’s it. That’s the Steelers.

Maybe 10-7 if things go well. Maybe 7-10 if they don’t.

Hello drafting around 15-20

Get used to it

[franco32]

That looked mostly like a SB caliber defense to me out there yesterday. Lots to like. But, I agree we are going nowhere without the offense opening up. I don't believe Fields can run a full field NFL offense. I just don't.

So, basically, we are pinning our hopes on Russell finding some late career magic. Is it possible? Maybe. But even if he does, Tomlin will still want to play these games close to the vest.

What does that mean? The defense will tire, injuries will mount from attrition football, and we will be plugging holes by the end of the year.

[anpsteel]

Why didn’t challenge the down call on Pickens ?

I don't believe down by contact is reviewable.

[jebrick]

As I understand it, the Steelers had only one 3 and out on offense. that is a vast improvement.