There are times as an educator, something I was for 16 years, when you see that stack of quizzes or tests sitting on your desk and you just have to wait to grade them. Sometimes it is based on the fact you just haven’t carved out time to dive into the grading process, and other times you have a strong feeling the class, as a whole, didn’t do well on this assignment.

When it comes to grading the Pittsburgh Steelers Week 15 game vs. the Indianapolis Colts, it was more the latter than anything else. As always, I felt the best course of action was to just wait a bit, let the dust settle, and then visit the grades without the emotions of the game still fresh in my mind.

Did it improve the grades much? Not at all. Time to get out the red pen and try to make grade out this game…

Offense

When the Steelers jumped out to a 13-0 lead, it felt too good to be true. Turns out, it was. If not for the blocked punt which set up the Steelers at the one-yard line, not sure they put up even 13 points. Mitch Trubisky was Mitch Trubisky, and the Steelers couldn’t do anything on offense with any consistency or fluidity. This is what the bottom of the barrel looks like…

Grade: F

Defense

When the offense isn’t playing well, you want to lean on your defense, but what if the defense is leaking in multiple levels? That’s what happened to the Steelers in Week 15. If T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith are doing their thing on the edges, run it right up the gut. The drive which had 13 straight run plays, marching down the field, was as demoralizing as it gets. The injuries on the defense keep piling up, and there doesn’t seem to be any relief in the near future.

Grade: F

Special Teams

If it weren’t for the blocked punt by Conner Heyward, recovered by Nick Herbig at the one-yard line, this would be another failing grade. Chris Boswell missed an extra point, and Pressley Harvin III continued to be as inconsistent as ever. Another poor outing for the special teams outside of a singular play.

Grade: D

Coaching

There are moments in games where I watch and can’t believe what I’m seeing. A great example is the opening script of plays on the offensive side of the ball. There are times when I see these plays, which have absolutely no chance of working, and I think to myself, “These coaches hand-picked these plays and had nine days of planning to do so.” It boggles my mind how inept this coaching staff can be at times.

Grade: F

The Steelers struggles continue to multiply by the week, and it is like watching a train wreck. You don’t want to watch, yet you can’t take your eyes off it. The wheels are falling off before our very eyes, and this 3-game skid the team is on right now just shines a light on just how poorly they are playing. Could they rebound? Absolutely they could, but I don’t think anyone with a brain between their ears, and eyes in their skulls, would foresee such a turnaround before 2024.

Overall Grade: F

What grade would you give the Steelers? Would any of the above grades be different? Let us know in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16 on Saturday.