The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the midst of a three-game losing streak. Even though it was known for months that this was going to be the most difficult part of the Steelers schedule, losing all three games by double digits it’s still not an acceptable outcome. So what went wrong?

While slow starts are definitely part of the issue for the Steelers, what also has come to play is how much the Steelers have fallen apart the last portion of the game.

I noted each week how theSteelers had themselves in the game with just about 20 minutes to go only before things fell apart. Surprisingly, it was right around the same time each of the last three games where this happened. To show what I mean, let’s take a look at things much like a hockey game where things are split into approximately three 20:00 periods. First we’ll take a look at each game before looking at how things went down as a whole.

Week 15 @ PHI

PD 1: 3-17 through 20:49
PD 2: 10-3 through 39:04
PD 3: 0-7 through 60:00

It was a disastrous start for the Steelers against the Eagles. Just seconds before it reached 20:00 into the game, the Eagles scored a touchdown to go up 17–3. It was the kind of start where the Steelers were going to need perfect play in order to overcome it. Once the second 20 minutes of the game began, the Steelers drove down the field for a touchdown, held the Eagles to a three and out, and kicked a field goal before halftime to cut the deficit only four points. The Steelers held the Eagles to a field goal and were driving in field goal range in an attempt to tie the game when, just before there was 20 minutes remaining, Najee Harris fumbled the ball. The Steelers defense ended up giving up a touchdown, and the offense only had one more possession before the Eagles killed the last 10.5 minutes of the game. So in the final 20 minutes, the Steelers coughed up the ball and never got a defensive stop.

Week 16 @ BAL

PD 1: 7-14 though 22:33
PD 2: 10-3 through 39:41
PD 3: 0-17 through 60:00

Against the Ravens, the Steelers were down 7–0 at the end of the first quarter but managed to put up a touchdown in the first 20 minutes as they did so on the first play of the second quarter. The Steelers then held the Ravens and got the ball back with great field position due to a terrible punt. But just before hitting the 20 minute mark, when the Steelers were on the cusp of going up 14–7, they fumbled the football on the Ravens’ 4-yard line and gave up a 96-yard touchdown drive to go down 14–7 just about 22.5 minutes into the game. After that, the Steelers had an unsuccessful drive and traded field goals before the half. Coming out for the first 10 minutes of the third quarter, after the teams exchanged punts, the Steelers scored a touchdown to tie the game with just over 20 minutes remaining. But the Steelers quickly gave up a touchdown drive where the Ravens never reached third down. With the Steelers failing on a fourth down attempt, they quickly got an interception only to give up a pick six two plays later. The Ravens added another field goal as the Steelers could not get on the scoreboard again.

Week 17 vs. KAN

PD 1: 0-13 through 19:25
PD 2: 10-3 through 39:11
PD 3: 0-13 through 60:00

The Steelers were down 13–0 at the end of the first quarter. Almost 20 minutes into the game the Steelers scored a touchdown for the final scoring of the first half. In the beginning of the third quarter, the Steelers took the best shot the Chiefs had for them coming out at halftime and only gave up three points and then answered with a field goal drive of their own to stay within 6 points. But heading into the final 20 minutes, the Steelers gave up a touchdown drive with that never reached a third down, fumbled on their next drive, and gave up another touchdown for plays later.

Last 3 games totals:

PD 1: 10-44 the first 3rd
PD 2: 30-9 the second 3rd
PD 3: 0-37 the final 3rd

These numbers tell a very interesting story. Yes, the Steelers are starting poorly. But more than starting poorly, they are finishing even worse. Over the final 20 minutes of the last three games, the Steelers have been out scored 37–0 after they make a comeback in each game to where they were still in it at that point. In fact, with right around 20 minutes left in each game the Steelers were either tied or with one score.

So what’s going on with the final 20 minutes? Do the Steelers run out of steam? Are they simply getting in their own way?

I wish I had the answer. I don’t know why the final 20 minutes are this bad. All I offer is pointing out the problem and hope the Steelers somehow can find the proper solution.