Ex-Steelers WR: Mike Tomlin Knows Steelers QB Situation is Bad

Following the Steelers’ loss to the New England Patriots, Mike Tomlin took to the podium confidently like he always would. But it seemed veiled on Thursday, and a sense of doubt may have started to creep into the mind of the revered head coach. Tomlin has the team on thin ice after losing two straight against subpar opponents.

But for Plaxico Burress, he seems to think Tomlin already knows the truth about the Steelers. Once they go down like they did on Thursday night, Burress says that Tomlin knew he simply did not have the firepower offensively, specifically at the quarterback position, to come back and win the game.

“The look on Tomlin’s face yesterday [Thursday], he really wasn’t excited the way this game was going offensively,” Burress said on the Carton Show. “He knew that he doesn’t have the quarterback to go out and win this football game last night. You can see it on his face.”

After the game, Tomlin stated that he had no thoughts of benching Mitch Trubisky for Mason Rudolph during the game. Though, perhaps he should have with Trubisky melting down throughout the game. He only had one interception, but another was called back, and a third could have been caught. The turnover-worthy plays for the Steelers offense is the most dire situation heating up on that side of the ball. They won through ball control and fighting it out early in the season. When they turn the ball over, things go from bad to worse.

Trubisky completed 22 of 35 passes (62.9%) for 190 yards (5.4 yards per attempt), one touchdown, one interception, and a quarterback rating of 74.7. Trubisky’s interception in the second quarter was crucial, as the Patriots’ turned the turnover into a touchdown.

Rudolph hasn’t played in a game since the 2021 season, when he started in place of Ben Roethlisberger, who was out with COVID-19 against the Detroit Lions. Rudolph finished that game 30 of 50 for 242 yards, one touchdown and one interception.