That was a nightmarish performance for the Pittsburgh Steelers. All things considered, that was easily the Steelers worst performance of the season.

Before Sunday’s debacle, I would have given that dishonor to the Steelers listless performance against the Houston Texans on the road. That was the last time I felt the majority of the roster didn’t even bother showing up for the game. Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals was even worse in my opinion, especially when you consider the quality of the opponent.

This game had other similarities to the Texans beat down, but I will get to those in a minute. Sunday’s defeat at the hands of the two wins coming in Cardinals reminded me of another home loss, to the Jacksonville Jaguars just a few weeks ago. Kenny Pickett was knocked out of both contests due to injury, just when the Steelers offense was starting to find their rhythm. Mitch Trubisky is forced to enter the fray, and all hope is lost, for all intents and purposes.

Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals was another Mike Tomlin special. This one was a classic. The man who has never endured a losing season as a head coach does have numerous head-scratching losses scattered throughout his resume. Games where his presumably more talented roster inexplicably loses to an inferior opponent. These games are usually complete collapses by all phases of the team; offense, defense, and special teams. This game definitely qualifies.

Just like the Texans game, all three phases of the team seemed unprepared and disjointed. Routine fundamentals and attention to detail were missing in action. Bad snaps, blown assignments, out of character penalties, and missed opportunities were evident throughout. Even Chris Boswell missed a field goal. You know it’s bad when your special teams captain picks up three knuckle head penalties in one game. Even worse, no leader appeared to step up to the plate to try and shake the team from it’s slumber. Probably because none of the Steelers supposed leaders were making much of an impact in the game to begin with. Including Mike Tomlin.

That’s why I have zero Steelers Stock Trending Up this week. Truly a sad first.

Steelers Stock Trending Down: Mitchell Trubisky

Remember my Steelers Stock Report article a few weeks ago when I suggested that the Steelers should give Mason Rudolph a chance at starting. That was immediately after the crushing loss to the Browns, and a couple days before the Steelers terminated Matt Canada. I honestly couldn’t believe I even suggested such a crazy idea, but suddenly I find myself having those thoughts once again.

I love Mitch Trubisky the individual, but Trubisky the player gives me the creeps. He is a turnover waiting to happen whenever he is on the field. Even if the turnover isn’t even his fault directly. It’s almost like a jinxed individual. You know the kind of person I am referring to. The type of person you don’t want nothing to do with because bad luck seems to follow them wherever they go. I get a sense of doom and gloom whenever he comes into the game. I don’t know how, when, or where; but I know a turnover is coming. I said as much to my family on Sunday, only moments before he wasn’t able to handle yet another bad snap from Mason Cole.

The Steelers have been extremely predictable this season: ranging from Canada’s play calling, soft zone coverages, and now Trubisky’s turnover tendencies. That’s why I think the Steelers should name Mason Rudolph the starting quarterback for Thursday’s game against the Patriots. It’s being reported that Kenny Pickett is going to need ankle surgery, and will miss a minimum of 2 to 4 weeks. So this is no short term gig. Whoever is named the Steelers starting QB needs to be the right fit for their current strengths on offense. That brings Rudolph into this conversation.

George Pickens is the Steelers only big play threat at receiver, and he needs a QB capable of getting him the ball deep against man coverage. Rudolph throws a much better deep ball than Trubisky. The Steelers stable of tight ends is another strength, even if it wasn’t fully utilized against the Cardinals, until right before Pickett’s injury. Pat Freiermuth needs someone who can work the middle of the field, without throwing clusters of interceptions. Lastly, the Steelers need a QB capable of working the play action game. I have seen Trubisky in action, and I don’t sense much pocket presence. Maybe it’s time to see what Mason Rudolph has to offer.

Steelers Stock Trending Down: Defense

The 2023 Steelers defense perfectly embodies this year’s team. They are really not very good, but they are opportunistic and very fortunate. Sunday’s loss was an example of what this defense looks like when the opposition doesn’t go out of their way to beat themselves. The Steelers had multiple opportunities to make a game changing play when the Cardinals put the ball on the ground, but could never capitalize. Just like in the Texans game, they were always a half step late and a dollar short.

Truth is, the highest paid defense in the NFL is severely overpaid. Maybe I should say top heavy. Especially when I had to double check after the game to tell whether Cameron Heyward even played or not. The Steelers are going to need to figure out a way to more efficiently disburse their defensive spending next season.

The true impact of the season ending injuries at inside linebacker is starting to take it’s toll on the Steelers defense. Just as I feared, the Steelers were no longer competitive once Elandon Roberts was knocked out of the game with a groin injury. Feel good stories Mykal Walker and Mark Robinson were exposed against the Cardinals. Walker was repeatedly targeted in coverage throughout the game, and was no competition for Cardinals talented young TE Trey McBride. Robinson was forced into action when Roberts was injured, and the totally inexperienced youngster looked the part. Although Robinson was credited with seven tackles on the day, he continues to look unsure and tentative. The aggressive nature he displayed last season and in the preseason was nowhere to be found. He was struggling to read, and even slower to react. I fear Robinson is running out of chances to prove that he is a NFL caliber linebacker.

Lastly, the Steelers defensive coaches are not living up to the standard. I keep hearing about the Steelers scoring defense, and about how opportunistic they are. That’s great and all, but it’s also kind of fluky. Both are impacted greatly by the Steelers style of play, and the quality of the opponent. The Steelers have been very fortunate to play the majority of their opponents this season at the most opportune time, evidenced by all the rookie and inexperienced quarterbacks they have faced already.

Who’s to blame when the highest paid defense in the NFL doesn’t even bother to show up for multiple games in a season? When the team shows up flat and unprepared. When the staff is inexplicably slow to make any necessary changes when the opposition is repeatedly exploiting an obvious mismatch. When the coaching staff’s shortcomings on personnel usage and player development, two areas of extreme importance for any rebuilding franchise, are clearly visible for the whole NFL community to see. When you become the league laughingstock by losing to arguably the worst team in the NFL at home. I honestly don’t know the answer to that question, but I do know this: Somebody has to be held accountable.