If the Steelers’ season is on the brink right now, a loss to the Bengals could send them over the precipice without a rope. The fact that they would still, at worst, be tied for the division lead makes that observation even more damning. But that’s how former NFL GM Doug Whaley and many others see it as they head in the opposite direction.
Should the Steelers lose to the Bengals, Pittsburgh would fall to 5-5, while Cincinnati would rise to 4-6. It would put the Bengals just one game behind for the division lead, and they would own a season sweep. Meanwhile, the 4-5 Ravens could swoop in and get back to .500 themselves, facing the lowly Browns. This might not quite be a must-win, but it has that feeling.
“This is a critical juncture in the season”, Whaley said on 93.7 The Fan, previewing the Steelers-Bengals game. “If the Bengals beat them at home and sweep them for the year, man oh man, it’s going to get very, very ugly. Not only in the public, but then there’s a seed of major doubt in that locker room”.
If the Steelers lose to the Bengals, they wouldn’t just be 5-5. They would also be 1-4 in their past five games, and it’s easy to grow restless under such circumstances. The Steelers always feel as if they have leaders, but that doesn’t prevent locker room issues from arising. And it didn’t stop them from losing five straight games to end last season.
“This is an inflection point on the season where it’s gonna get very, very interesting”, Whaley said. “Can the coaching staff keep the locker room and have them believing?” he questioned, should the Steelers lose to the Bengals. “It’s gonna be interesting, and as they say, get your popcorn ready”.
As a reminder, the Steelers are currently in an eight-year playoff win drought. The last time they won in the postseason, T.J. Watt was still in Wisconsin. Carson Bruener’s father hadn’t even been retired for a decade yet at that point. Many things were different back then. We had a whole pandemic. Prince Harry was still filing “single” on his tax returns.
The reason this game is so critical is simply because of the prospects of the teams involved. The Steelers appear to be heading for a free fall, and a loss to the Bengals would confirm it. Meanwhile, Cincinnati is preparing to welcome Joe Burrow back, and the Ravens have bounced back from an early lull.
If the Steelers fall to 5-5, they will absolutely have a worse outlook than a 5-5 Ravens team, or even a 4-6 Bengals team. Pittsburgh has a tough schedule remaining, not to mention two games against the Ravens. And if things continue to head in this direction, what will the offseason look like?
While many fans are convinced that Art Rooney II doesn’t actually care about winning, the Steelers made some pretty dramatic changes. Just about the only thing they haven’t tried in recent years has been moving on from Mike Tomlin. Now, that’s not likely to happen in 2026. But if things really get bad…well, get your popcorn ready.
Recommended for you