The Steelers must win a playoff game this year. That’s the opinion of two NFL pundits who examined the team and its most recent signing of quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
And if they don't, coach Mike Tomlin may be the one paying the price.
“I know the easy thing to say is to win a playoff game or win two playoff games. I get that,” said Chris Simms on the Pro Football Talk/NFL on NBC podcast. “I know that's the goal.”
The Steelers are in a record playoff drought. They’ve gone nine years since they’ve won a playoff game, which led them to these moves, which are uncharacteristic for the team.
“I think the bare minimum is they have to win a playoff,” said Mike Florio, who claimed he’s been following the team for 52 years. “Because they've adopted a different vibe this year. They've taken on an air of desperation with the DK Metcalf trade. I mean, think about it. They go out and they pay market value to a guy who was chronically underutilized and not properly used in the Seattle offense. And they already had a guy that they weren't properly utilizing in their own offense in George Pickens.”
The un-Steelers like moves have created an impression on the fan base, Florio contends: “Why are you doing this? Why are you behaving this way? What's the world coming to that the Pittsburgh Steelers are acting desperate in their effort to find a quarterback, especially when he was plan C. They wanted Stafford first, then Fields, and then Rodgers was plan C. Why are you acting that way?' That, to me, makes it even more important that they cash in on this and win a playoff game.”
The danger is that going with an older quarterback is it creates an awkward situation that can leave a hangover for years after, Florio said.
“Because if this doesn't work, when you look at how out of character, the Steelers are behaving this year...if this doesn't work for the first time ever, I could seriously entertain the possibility that Art Rooney gets himself a new coach.”