Mike Tomlin and the Steelers had an amazing rebound to their Week 12 surprise defeat to the Browns. Pittsburgh overcame Cincinnati 44-38, resulting in a shocking shootout. The Steelers finished with 520 total yards of offense, their highest total in a regular-season game since 2018. Russell Wilson had his most productive day as a Steeler, passing for 414 yards and three touchdowns. Pittsburgh’s win lifts them to 9-3, their best record through 12 games since 2020.
The Steelers’ Sunday got even better after the late window games ended. Pittsburgh’s lead in the AFC North expanded to 1.5 games after Baltimore lost 24-19 at Philadelphia. The Steelers face the Browns (again) in Week 14, while the Ravens are on a bye, giving the Black and Gold a tremendous opportunity to extend their advantage with only five games left in the season.
In addition to the inflated box score, Mike Tomlin’s triumph represented another significant milestone in his famous career. Tomlin recorded his 18th consecutive non-losing season, dating back to his first season with the organization in 2007.
Tomlin has regularly been criticized for the Steelers’ lack of playoff success in recent years. While these criticisms are true, they should not overwhelm Tomlin’s remarkable record in Pittsburgh. Only Tom Landry’s Cowboys (21) and Bill Belichick’s Patriots (19) have more consecutive non-losing seasons than Mike Tomlin’s Steelers have.
Before the season began, many notable personalities in sports media, including Colin Cowherd and Stephen A. Smith, anticipated that Tomlin would have his first losing season owing to the team’s hard schedule and quarterback uncertainty. Oddsmakers were equally negative, with the Steelers expected to finish last in their division—something that hasn’t happened since 1988.
Pittsburgh outperformed expectations by a significant margin, exceeding their 8.5 win over/under in Week 13. The Steelers’ surprise season has been fueled by one of Mike Tomlin’s best coaching seasons.
Tomlin decided to switch quarterbacks from Justin Fields to Russell Wilson, despite Fields’ 4-2 record as a starter. Although fans and the media questioned Tomlin’s decision, it has since been proven to be the correct one. Tomlin currently has the third-best odds to win the AP Coach of the Year award, trailing just Dan Campbell and Kevin O’Connell, according to FanDuel. He has surely quieted any clamor for his job.
The Steelers’ current stretch of straight seasons at.500 or higher goes beyond Mike Tomlin’s 18-year career. Pittsburgh has not had a losing season since 2003 (6-10, the year before Ben Roethlisberger was selected). That gives them 21 consecutive non-losing seasons from 2004 to 2024, which equals the Cowboys’ stretch from 1965 to 1985.
Tomlin and the Steelers will have an excellent opportunity to accomplish more before the season ends. They are currently favored to win the AFC North, marking their first division triumph in four years. Pittsburgh will also face significant pressure to snap their seven-year playoff skid.
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