Remember during the build-up to the Wild-Card matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, when Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith claimed that Pittsburgh would “burn the boats” against Baltimore due to the playoffs being single-game elimination?
“No stone left unturned,” Smith had said, but Saturday’s Wild-Card loss showcased the same old Steelers, with the ever-athletic Justin Fields used as a benchwarmer in favor of the aging Russell Wilson.
Smith claimed the offense would use everything at its disposal, referring to the idea of the Fields package seeing more usage in the playoffs. With that in mind, why on Earth did Justin Fields only see two snaps on offense—an offense that failed to score more than 14 points?
Remember all the Justin Fields buzz pregame? Played 2 snaps.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) January 12, 2025
Fields’ time on the field saw the quarterback attempt zero rushes and act more as a decoy than anything else. His lone pass attempt fell incomplete under pressure from Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey.
Fans are understandably calling for HC Mike Tomlin’s job, but perhaps Arthur Smith deserves equal criticism for the offense’s late-season collapse in 2024.