Steelers First Half vs. Minnesota Vikings Most Embarrassing of Season… By Far

[Steeler Nation]

The Pittsburgh Steelers currently trail the Minnesota Vikings 23-0 at halftime on Thursday Night Football. While a slow start was to be expected due to an emotional win against the Baltimore Ravens just four days ago, the first half was horrifying to watch. The Steelers seem to have had absolutely no game plan for the Vikings, Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson. With every game critical from here on out, Mike Tomlin and his team came out flat and should be, truly, embarrassed by the showing thus far.

Cook ran for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Jefferson caught five passes for 67 yards and a touchdown while the Steelers do not have a running back or receiver with more than 30 yards in their respective categories. It begs the question of how the team under Tomlin are consistently inconsistent year in and year out since 2011. No one ever knows what to expect from this group and it is a glaring issue.

It has been quite the trend in the Tomlin era to come out extremely slow and unprepared on the road after big wins. This is a game the Steelers should absolutely be contending in. Certainly not trailing by 23 points at the half. The offense has been horrible. But even with zero points on the board for Ben Roethlisberger and co., the defense has been even more underperforming. It makes you wonder if Tomlin and Keith Butler did not prepare for Cook in any facet. That is sure what it seems like. Cook was not expected to play dating back to last week and he sure looks as healthy as ever.

The team was unprepared and undisciplined (Chase Claypool) throughout the first half. Could the team rally behind Roethlisberger and make an improbable comeback? I wouldn’t put it past them based on this season’s trend, but the first half was one of the most embarrassing halves of football, not just this year, but in a long time for the Pittsburgh Steelers.



What are your thoughts on the Steelers first half performance? Let us know in the comments below!

#SteelerNation

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[johngaenzler]

Not a vance. SEASON OVER.

 

[Vikefan]

The Pittsburgh Steelers currently trail the Minnesota Vikings 23-0 at halftime on Thursday Night Football. While a slow start was to be expected due to an emotional win against the Baltimore Ravens just four days ago, the first half was horrifying to watch. The Steelers seem to have had absolutely no game plan for the Vikings, Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson. With every game critical from here on out, Mike Tomlin and his team came out flat and should be, truly, embarrassed by the showing thus far.

Cook ran for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Jefferson caught five passes for 67 yards and a touchdown while the Steelers do not have a running back or receiver with more than 30 yards in their respective categories. It begs the question of how the team under Tomlin are consistently inconsistent year in and year out since 2011. No one ever knows what to expect from this group and it is a glaring issue.

It has been quite the trend in the Tomlin era to come out extremely slow and unprepared on the road after big wins. This is a game the Steelers should absolutely be contending in. Certainly not trailing by 23 points at the half. The offense has been horrible. But even with zero points on the board for Ben Roethlisberger and co., the defense has been even more underperforming. It makes you wonder if Tomlin and Keith Butler did not prepare for Cook in any facet. That is sure what it seems like. Cook was not expected to play dating back to last week and he sure looks as healthy as ever.

The team was unprepared and undisciplined (Chase Claypool) throughout the first half. Could the team rally behind Roethlisberger and make an improbable comeback? I wouldn’t put it past them based on this season’s trend, but the first half was one of the most embarrassing halves of football, not just this year, but in a long time for the Pittsburgh Steelers.



What are your thoughts on the Steelers first half performance? Let us know in the comments below!

#SteelerNation

Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..

As a Vikings fan, I gotta say this shows why Thursday night football has got to go! I can't believe the players union ever ok'd it. Your guys are spent and were from the kick off. Did the team the played the Ravens straight up suddenly turn to ****? Not likely.

 

[MB47]

we have had so many bad halves it's hard to definitively say which was rock bottom. Tomlin is the man.

 

[steelcan58]

Tomlin isn't embarrassed. At his press conference Tomlin said it wasn't on the coaches. They don't tackle, block, catch or defend passes...

 

[MB47]

Then why do coaches ever get fired ?

 

[Steeltime]

Then why do coaches ever get fired ?

Tomlin's amazing gameplanning and strategery against an absolutely dominant Lions team shields him from criticism, MB.

 

[Steel G]

Most embarrassing of the season? It's the most embarrassing since the start of 1989...and actually it's even worse than that because there were no expectations of that 89 team. They need a serious house cleaning, top to bottom.

 

[GILBERT]

It almost seems there is an inside joke/bet within the locker room to play like **** and see how far behind they can get before mounting a comeback.
Started in the SB vs. GB.

 

[madinsomniac]

Tomlin isn't embarrassed. At his press conference Tomlin said it wasn't on the coaches. They don't tackle, block, catch or defend passes...

Thats the kind of quotes that you hear as a seat gets hot… I totally think his seat is far warmer than we believe

 

[steelcan58]

Thats the kind of quotes that you hear as a seat gets hot… I totally think his seat is far warmer than we believe

I hope you're right. I'd hate to think we have to go through 3 or 4 more years of Tomlin proving how incompetent he is after Ben retires and then start the rebuild.

 

[ZonaBurgh]

"Steelers First Half vs. Minnesota Vikings Most Embarrassing of Season… By Far"​

Tomlin says, hold my beer.

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

what i think about: - was them just being flat the reason they got shredded? - What were the magic words that were spoken at half time? - How can they take 15 min at the half and make adjustments that made a difference, when they had days and weeks before hand to plan for that resulted in ****. If they can make adjustments at half in 15 min. Why cant they make adjustments during the game that work the same way.?

 

[SteelerSask2]

And that is really saying something considering both Bengals game.

 

[SteelerSask2]

what i think about: - was them just being flat the reason they got shredded? - What were the magic words that were spoken at half time? - How can they take 15 min at the half and make adjustments that made a difference, when they had days and weeks before hand to plan for that resulted in ****. If they can make adjustments at half in 15 min. Why cant they make adjustments during the game that work the same way.?

The adjustment was that Ben ran the offense and the Vikings quit doing what got them a 29 point lead. Both teams slept walked through the 3rd quarter.

 

[wig]

I can only hope that the coaching staff realizes that the only possible chance the team has is if they implement more no/muddle-huddle and truly look at what makes those plays more effective.

At this point Canada just HAS to swallow some pride and sit down with Ben and figure out what is best for the offense to move forward. I don't think 100% no/muddle huddle will be effective, but they really SHOULD expand the plays in those packages and they should run it "randomly" through the game. They should purposefully get themselves into package situations where if they convert or get what they want, they immediately go hurry up and force that defense to stay on the field for awhile.

Right now it is clearly the ONLY effective weapon they have on offense. They should figure out how to effectively use it.

 

[Lunar]

That first half made me wANT TO burn a luxury S10

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

The adjustment was that Ben ran the offense and the Vikings quit doing what got them a 29 point lead. Both teams slept walked through the 3rd quarter.

I quit at the half ,, i came back after we had 14 or something.. So didnt see most of 3rd qtr. I would pay some good money to a someone to be able to watch halftime in the locker room. Like pay per view.

 

[SteelerSask2]

I quit at the half ,, i came back after we had 14 or something.. So didnt see most of 3rd qtr. I would pay some good money to a someone to be able to watch halftime in the locker room. Like pay per view.

I'm with you on that. I guarantee it's emotional flim flam talk from Tomlin not technical.

 

[slashsteel]

I quit at the half , I came back after we had 14 or something.. So didn't see most of 3rd qtr. I would pay some good money to someone to be able to watch halftime in the locker room. Like pay per view.

I turned the volume off. Sat there not expecting anything. Not believing they could pull off a win and they didn't. Tomlin says he doesn't live in his fears but my fear is this groundhog day will continue. With no end in sight. I play pick'ems yearly and see NFL trends. As I think it was Sask who pointed out a lot of teams trend with this win lose win lose presentation. Which yeah it is common. It is the high level of struggle overall that is frustrating. On those down weeks they often fail to even be competitive. As the season progresses the better teams point in the right direction. The Steelers just don't and haven't for awhile. They aren't a good team and aren't a good coached team. From tackling fundimentals, to game on the line scenerios, to cohesiveness, to maturity, lack of sound game time schematics, to the fail on the chess board in free agency.... to horrible clock management. They clear cap space when needed, they make room yearly but their approach is flawed. It isn't even the band aids they put out as a collective whole it is the positions from a veteran perspective they fail to address. If they could coach up their players better it would lessen the free agency fail but in every positional unit is filled with underdevelopment failure. It is back to the lab and a HC who finger points to the players. But this week to week season to season groundhog day points back at the coaches and GM. I have a feeling there will be plenty of more volume down Sundays too fanatical to turn the channel off instead.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Thats the kind of quotes that you hear as a seat gets hot… I totally think his seat is far warmer than we believe

I would like to think you are correct, way hotter than we hear about. We are not on a day to day in the organization and one could think that Art has had some closed door talks. Art Duece isn't or doesn't see like a football man but don't think he is a duy either. He was raised with his dad 100% football, i' sure some family dinners included football talk.

Art II is a business man and a very good one at that. To be a good business man you definately have "ears" around and comunication about..





Salute the nation

 

[topseed]

And that is really saying something considering both Bengals game.

"By Far" isn't really very accurate, given the Cincinnati debacle just two weeks ago. The Steelers were down 31-3 at halftime, outgained 262-95, and totally dominated in a key division game. Right up there for the "Most ******* Embarrassing Half" title, if you ask me.

 

[madinsomniac]

I would like to think you are correct, way hotter than we hear about. We are not on a day to day in the organization and one could think that Art has had some closed door talks. Art Duece isn't or doesn't see like a football man but don't think he is a duy either. He was raised with his dad 100% football, i' sure some family dinners included football talk.

Art II is a business man and a very good one at that. To be a good business man you definately have "ears" around and comunication about..





Salute the nation

the most telling thing is Tomlins expressions when he absolutely ****** up, like when Boswell was hurt on the fake… go back and look… that was panic… his verbiage afterwards saw breaks in his typical bravado… he is feeling heat,but it’s possible its just from the fans… his reaction to the college job rumors was over the top too…

Passing the buck, overreaction to rumors, actual panic… these are the actions of a coach on a hot seat… not a secure coach that just got a fairly long extension

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

I turned the volume off. Sat there not expecting anything. Not believing they could pull off a win and they didn't. Tomlin says he doesn't live in his fears but my fear is this groundhog day will continue. With no end in sight. I play pick'ems yearly and see NFL trends. As I think it was Sask who pointed out a lot of teams trend with this win lose win lose presentation. Which yeah it is common. It is the high level of struggle overall that is frustrating. On those down weeks they often fail to even be competitive. As the season progresses the better teams point in the right direction. The Steelers just don't and haven't for awhile. They aren't a good team and aren't a good coached team. From tackling fundimentals, to game on the line scenerios, to cohesiveness, to maturity, lack of sound game time schematics, to the fail on the chess board in free agency.... to horrible clock management. They clear cap space when needed, they make room yearly but their approach is flawed. It isn't even the band aids they put out as a collective whole it is the positions from a veteran perspective they fail to address. If they could coach up their players better it would lessen the free agency fail but in every positional unit is filled with underdevelopment failure. It is back to the lab and a HC who finger points to the players. But this week to week season to season groundhog day points back at the coaches and GM. I have a feeling there will be plenty of more volume down Sundays too fanatical to turn the channel off instead.

Wow. Good post.

 

[GILBERT]

"By Far" isn't really very accurate, given the Cincinnati debacle just two weeks ago. The Steelers were down 31-3 at halftime, outgained 262-95, and totally dominated in a key division game. Right up there for the "Most ******* Embarrassing Half" title, if you ask me.

There have already been a number of all-time worst halves this season.