Can Steelers, Mike Tomlin Stay Dominant against Rookie QBs?

The Pittsburgh Steelers have already faced two rookie quarterbacks this season and are slated to go against another on Sunday when they travel to take on Dorian Thompson-Robinson and the Cleveland Browns.

While the Browns have an elite defense, the Steelers should have the upper hand on Sunday. Under Mike Tomlin, the Steelers are the definition of “dominant” against rookie quarterbacks as the squad boasts a 24-5 record against first-year signal callers. In addition, the Steelers have won nine of their last 10 matchups against rookie quarterbacks, dating back to the 2016 season.

The Steelers defeated the Browns in Week 2 but that came with Deshaun Watson as the opposing quarterback. Now with Watson’s season-ending injury, the Browns handed the responsibility to the fifth-round pick, Thompson-Robinson, rather than the fourth-year backup, P.J. Walker.

Thompson-Robinson does have a history against Pittsburgh-based football teams, and it is not pretty. While at UCLA, Thompson-Robinson played his last collegiate game against the University of Pittsburgh in the 2022 Sun Bowl. In the 37-35 Pitt victory, Thompson-Robinson chucked three interceptions before exiting the game with an injury.

In his lone NFL start this season, Thompson-Robinson tossed another three interceptions as the Browns lost to the Baltimore Ravens by the score of 28-3.

Earlier this season, the Steelers were blown out by C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans, 30-6, but beat Will Levis and the Tennessee Titans 20-16 two weeks ago.

The Steelers were scheduled to face one more rookie quarterback this season but after a surgery to repair his injured shoulder, the team will face Gardner Minshew rather than Anthony Richardson when they visit the Indianapolis Colts in December.

STEELERS MIKE TOMLIN VS. ROOKIE QUARTERBACKS
Nov. 2, 2023 vs. Will Levis, Tennessee Titans, 20-16 W
Oct. 1, 2023 at C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans, 30-6 L
Nov. 8, 2021 vs. Justin Fields, Chicago Bears, 29-27 W
Nov. 22, 2020 at Jake Luton, Jacksonville Jaguars, 27-3 W
Nov. 15, 2020 vs. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals, 36-10 W
Dec. 8, 2019 at Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals, 23-17 W
Nov. 24, 2019 at Ryan Finley, Cincinnati Bengals, 16-10 W
Oct. 28, 2018 vs. Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns, 33-18 W
Dec. 31, 2017 vs. DeShone Kizer, Cleveland Browns, 28-24 W
Sept. 10, 2017 at DeShone Kizer, Cleveland Browns, 21-18 W
Nov. 20, 2016 at Cody Kessler, Cleveland Browns, 24-9 W
Nov. 13, 2016 vs. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys, 35-30 L
Sept. 25, 2016 at Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles, 34-3 L
Nov. 17, 2014 at Zach Mettenberger, Tennessee Titans, 27-24 W
Oct. 5, 2014 at Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars, 17-9 W
Nov. 10, 2013 vs. EJ Manuel, Buffalo Bills, 23-10 W
Oct. 13, 2013 at Geno Smith, New York Jets, 19-6 W
Nov. 25, 2013 at Brandon Weeden, Clevleand Browns, 20-14 L
Oct. 28, 2012 vs. Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins, 27-12 W
Dec. 4, 2011 vs. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals, 35-7 W
Nov. 13, 2011 at Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals, 24-17 W
Oct. 16, 2011 vs. Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville Jaguars, 17-13 W
Jan. 1, 2011 at Colt McCoy, Cleveland Browns, 41-9 W
Dec. 23, 2010 vs. Jimmy Clausen, Carolina Panthers, 27-3 W
Oct. 17, 2010 vs. Colt McCoy, Cleveland Browns, 28-10 W
Dec. 14, 2008 at Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens, 12-9 W
Sept. 29, 2008 vs. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens 23-20 W (OT)
Dec. 30, 2007 at Troy Smith, Baltimore Ravens 27-21 L
Nov. 26, 2007 vs. John Beck, Miami Dolphins 3-0 W