Tomlin playoff losses

[WindyCitySteel]

Is this normal? Maybe other teams lose in the playoffs like this, too, but it feels like when the Steelers lose there is a large part of the game where things go completely sideways. In all 9 playoff losses under Tomlin, the team has trailed by double-digits. In 6 of the 9, by 3 or more scores, including the last four, three of which were by 4 scores!

The Denver game was the closest start to finish, with Den taking their biggest lead late. And to their credit, they have come back to make many of these close, even taking the lead in some, but this spans over several OCs and DCs and the common theme is that the game plan just didn't work. Like every time. WTF?

Biggest deficit:

2007 Jax: 28-10
2010 GB: 21-3
2011 Den: 20-6
2014 Bal: 30-15
2015 Den: 23-13
2016 NE: 36-9
2017 Jax: 28-7
2020 Cle: 28-0
2021 KC: 35-7

[whisper]

Is this normal? Maybe other teams lose in the playoffs like this, too, but it feels like when the Steelers lose there is a large part of the game where things go completely sideways. In all 9 playoff losses under Tomlin, the team has trailed by double-digits. In 6 of the 9, by 3 or more scores, including the last four, three of which were by 4 scores!

The Denver game was the closest start to finish, with Den taking their biggest lead late. And to their credit, they have come back to make many of these close, even taking the lead in some, but this spans over several OCs and DCs and the common theme is that the game plan just didn't work. Like every time. WTF?

Biggest deficit:

2007 Jax: 28-10
2010 GB: 21-3
2011 Den: 20-6
2014 Bal: 30-15
2015 Den: 23-13
2016 NE: 36-9
2017 Jax: 28-7
2020 Cle: 28-0
2021 KC: 35-7

Oh, you're just Tomlin bashing and being negative. So what if coaching against Shades is like child's play, you're just being negative.

[Prowler]

The organization will never win another SB with Tomlin in charge. He inspires poor execution, approves of idiotic game plans, bad attitudes and lazy uninspiring play during the playoffs.

[NorthCoast]

Tomlin certainly shares blame in some of the losses.

• KC - Last season's loss to KC shouldn't shock anyone that followed the Steelers in 2021. Same problem the Steelers had for over half the season, poor scoring in the first half which I put mostly on the QB.
• CLE - I've said before that Tomlin was outcoached by Stefanski in the CLE loss. Watt and Heyward were completely neutralized.
• JAX loss was on the offense and defense, so you could argue the HC didn't have the team ready.
• NE - no HC for the Steelers has done well against Belichick
• DEN - each team had a TD but it was battle of the FGs
• BAL - divisional game always tough to predict; the Steelers split with BAL that season, winning the second game in a blowout. Maybe Tomlin thought he could use the same gameplan for the playoff?
• DEN - SB hangover season. Steelers tied the Donkeys with less than 4 mins left but the infamous pass to Thomas did them in OT. That's on the player.
• GB - close game, no issue with coaching
• JAX - Tomlin's rookie season, close game could have gone either way

[hawaiiansteel]

Tomlin certainly shares blame in some of the losses.

of course he shares blame, he's the head coach.

it's just that I believe players are equally if not more important in wins and losses.

[WindyCitySteel]

of course he shares blame, he's the head coach.

it's just that I believe players are equally if not more important in wins and losses.

I blame players more for missing plays that are there, but when the entire team looks flat and disheveled, that's on the coaches and preparation.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

Tomlin certainly shares blame in some of the losses.

• KC - Last season's loss to KC shouldn't shock anyone that followed the Steelers in 2021. Same problem the Steelers had for over half the season, poor scoring in the first half which I put mostly on the QB.
• CLE - I've said before that Tomlin was outcoached by Stefanski in the CLE loss. Watt and Heyward were completely neutralized.
• JAX loss was on the offense and defense, so you could argue the HC didn't have the team ready.
• NE - no HC for the Steelers has done well against Belichick
• DEN - each team had a TD but it was battle of the FGs
• BAL - divisional game always tough to predict; the Steelers split with BAL that season, winning the second game in a blowout. Maybe Tomlin thought he could use the same gameplan for the playoff?
• DEN - SB hangover season. Steelers tied the Donkeys with less than 4 mins left but the infamous pass to Thomas did them in OT. That's on the player.
• GB - close game, no issue with coaching
• JAX - Tomlin's rookie season, close game could have gone either way

On the 1st Jax loss some Steelers say Tomlin overworked them, so Yes that is his fault. He has had great deficits in these nine playoff games. Late scores by us only make look better, but the point that he was down lot of points remains.

[Northern_Blitz]

Anyone remember why the didn't didn't have any playoff losses in 2008?

[feltdizz]

On the 1st Jax loss some Steelers say Tomlin overworked them, so Yes that is his fault. He has had great deficits in these nine playoff games. Late scores by us only make look better, but the point that he was down lot of points remains.

and yet, some are frustrated when coaches tell players to go home and rest.

checks box score.. oh yeah, Ben had 3 INT’s. Most times we lost playoff games we also lost the turnover battle. Another game where Ben had a turnover for a TD vs the Jags. Seems like a common theme in most losses to the Jags. They had Ben’s number.

We lost that Jags game because the refs missed a blatant hold on the QB draw.

The Jags were also 12-4 that year but the Colts win their division.

Guess what happened the next year? SB baby!!!

[whisper]

On the 1st Jax loss some Steelers say Tomlin overworked them,

Not "some say," everyone said, including Shades himself and Troy Polamalu. Shades said, "There is no manual for this job. I probably worked the team to the nub coming into that game." It was obvious. On a critical 4th and 2, Jax QB Garrard easily ran for the 1st down; Steeler players were running in sand, just didn't have the legs to stop him.