For most observers, it’s surprising to see the Steelers still have a winning record and be in the middle of the playoff race this late in the season. All season, Pittsburgh has found ways to win games despite having a negative point differential. Even after losing three of their last four games, the Steelers still have a winning record and are in the middle of a crowded AFC Wild Card race.
However, according to Pennsylvania’s biggest sportsbooks, Pittsburgh’s odds of making the playoffs are dwindling. They’ve also lost starting quarterback Kenny Pickett to a high-ankle sprain that required surgery, forcing Mitch Trubisky to start their Week 14 loss to the Patriots. With Pickett questionable to return before the end of the year, the biggest question in Pittsburgh these days is whether Trubisky is capable of leading the Steelers to the playoffs or at least keeping them in contention until Pickett is ready to return.
First Impression
On the surface, there were plenty of reasons to believe that Trubisky would be an adequate replacement for the injured Pickett. In fact, some believed that he would actually be an upgrade. Pittsburgh’s passing attack has been one of the worst in the NFL this season with Pickett barely eclipsing 2,000 yards and throwing just six touchdown passes in 12 games.
However, Trubisky failed to match Pickett’s meager performance both in relief of him in a Week 13 loss to the Cardinals and in Thursday’s loss to the Patriots. Across those two games, Trubisky completed 33 of his 52 passes for 307 yards. While his completion percentage is solid, he’s averaged fewer than six yards per pass since taking over for Pickett, throwing two touchdown passes and one interception. More importantly, the Steelers lost both games to teams with a combined record of 6-20, a huge hit to Pittsburgh’s playoff chances.
Needless to say, the road is going to get a lot tougher for Trubisky and the Steelers after losing to two of the worst teams in the NFL. The Steelers finish their season against the Colts, Bengals, Seahawks, and Ravens. All four games are against teams that are .500 or better with three of those games coming on the road. With little margin for error in a crowded playoff picture, Trubisky’s lackluster performance thus far doesn’t inspire much confidence.
The Benefit of the Doubt
Despite Trubisky’s disappointing play since Pickett’s injury, he still deserves the benefit of the doubt. It’s never easy for a backup quarterback to come in cold off the bench, so Trubisky’s struggles in Week 13 against the Cardinals can be forgiven. That game also included multiple weather breaks, making it even more difficult for Trubisky to find his rhythm.
Coming off that loss, Trubisky and the Steelers had a short week to prepare for Thursday’s game against the Patriots. While New England has a dreadful 3-10 record, the Patriots have been tough defensively all year. They allowed 10 points or less in three consecutive games before facing the Steelers. That speaks to the challenge that Trubisky and the Steelers faced in Week 14.
Keep in mind that the Steelers are just a few weeks removed from making a change at offensive coordinator. Even before Pickett’s injury, the Pittsburgh offense struggled to show improvement, scoring just 16 points in a win over the Bengals in Week 12. With Trubisky being forced to take over as the starter while also adjusting to a new offensive coordinator, it would have been unfair to ask too much of him, especially with little time to prepare.
Right for the Job?
With Pickett sidelined, there is no question that Trubisky is Pittsburgh’s best option at the moment. While Mason Rudolph could be an option and had some bright moments in 2019, there are reasons why the Steelers chose to have Trubisky serve as Pickett’s backup. Believe it or not, Trubisky has a winning record as an NFL quarterback and he did help guide the Bears to the playoffs in both 2018 and 2020. He’s more than capable of doing the same for the Steelers this season and at least gives Pittsburgh a fighting chance heading down the stretch.
Unfortunately for the Steelers, there is too much working against Trubisky for him to overcome. The Steelers didn’t have a high-functioning offense before he took over, making it hard to envision Trubisky playing at his best and being the team’s savior. Given his problematic start against the Patriots and a challenging schedule in the weeks ahead, it doesn’t seem likely that Trubisky will be able to pull off any miracles and lead the Steelers to the playoffs this season.