Mitch Trubisky Takes the Blame for Struggling Steelers Offense: ‘Played Like Crap’

PITTSBURGH — There were many reasons that the Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the New England Patriots, 21-18 on Thursday night, but quarterback Mitch Trubisky is only interested in pointing the finger at himself.

Trubisky played in his fourth game but made his first start of the season after Kenny Pickett was lost for several weeks to a high ankle sprain in Sunday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Trubisky was unable to lead the Steelers from behind in that game — the team trailed from his second snap on. Given a clean slate against New England, Trubisky quickly muddied it, throwing an interception that was nearly return for a touchdown and led to one a few plays later.

With the opportunity to replace that big play for New England with one of his own the other way, Trubisky was unable to deliver. The Steelers had four possessions in the fourth quarter before the final desperation shot with 15 seconds left. Two of the four started in New England territory, with an interception at the 16 and a partially blocked punt at the 26. They managed just eight points.

“I have to play better,” Trubisky said succinctly. “I feel like I let the guys down. Got to score off the turnover, couple of those fourth downs, the one in the red zone and the one ball to Diontae (Johnson). I have to do better for the guys, for the team. It’s disappointing. Missed opportunities. I didn’t play good enough for us to win, and that’s how I’m feeling right now.”

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky is tackled by two New England Patriots on Dec. 7, 2023. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

The deep ball to Diontae Johnson was on the penultimate possession, when the Steelers had driven to their own 40-yard line. Trailing by just a field goal, they needed only about 20 more yards to get to the edge of Chris Boswell’s range.

On 2nd and 10, Trubisky found Johnson for eight yards. On the next two plays, Trubisky threw two deep passes, both incomplete, to George Pickens and Johnson. When the second one hit the turf, the game was essentially over.

But Trubisky wouldn’t even blame the obviously wonky playcalling for the team’s failure to succeed. 

“I liked the calls at the end,” he said. “We just didn’t make the throws. Didn’t capitalize.”

Even the fans in the stands that callously cheered for Trubisky to be replaced by Mason Rudolph during a break in the action while Alex Highsmith was being attended to for a neck injury were spared any criticism.

“It’s understandable,” he said. “I pflayed like crap in the first half. It is what it is. I mean, they’re frustrated. We’re all frustrated. But we did better in the second half to give us a chance. But I got to play better. That’s the bottom line.”

I’ll do Trubisky the favor. That was bush league and the fans should know better. But he’s probably not wrong about his performance in general.