Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin watches from the sidline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Landover, Md. Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Williams celebrates his 32-yard touchdown reception with teammate wide receiver George Pickens during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Landover, Md.
So Killebrew, the captain of perhaps the best special teams unit in the NFL, did what longtime coordinator Danny Smith has empowered him to do: He gambled, taking the snap and flipping a pass to an open Pierre down the left sideline. Pierre, perhaps showing why he’s a cornerback and not a wide receiver by trade,and improve to 7-2 following a game that in many ways symbolized the shift in the tectonic plates that long have governed arguably the NFL’s most stable franchise.
Yet the NFL’s longest-tenured coach knew he hadn’t seen enough. If Pittsburgh wants to end a playoff victory drought that dates to the 2016 AFC championship — the longest gap between postseason wins since the Immaculate Reception 52 years ago — Tomlin knew his offense would have to be more than serviceable for the Steelers to catch the
There is a long way to go, to be sure. The final two months include six AFC North games, a trip to Philadelphia and a Christmas Day showdown with Patrick Mahomes and the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs.