The black and gold’s offense seems to have lost their way
Much maligned Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith spoke with the media and addressed the perceived lack of creativity on offense the past handful of weeks. which really came to a head this past Saturday in a 19-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
When asked about his play calling, he responded by saying “I don’t think it’s predictable.”
For what it’s worth, outside of the two-minute drill, the Steelers ran the ball on 12 straight first downs in the loss.
The Steelers gained 193 yards on offense against the Bengals, who ranked 8th in the NFL in yards per game allowed this season in total yards allowed (5,921) – more than the New York Giants, a team that finished the regular season with three wins, who came in at 9th.
Smith’s unit is checking all of the wrong boxes regarding predictability. They ranked dead last in yards per first down. The Steelers also did not score an opening-drive touchdown all season.
The #Ravens produce a league high 6.9 yards per play on first down. The #Steelers produce a league low 4.5 yards per play on first down.
— Matt Williamson (@WilliamsonNFL) January 8, 2025
Following the firing of Matt Canada last season, Steelers fans and media alike were optimistic about Smith, who had a very successful stint as the Tennessee Titans OC from 2019- 2021.
Fast forward to five months later, and that sunny disposition has just about worn off.
Smith still has a chance to course correct, as his Steelers gear up for a first-round matchup with the Baltimore Ravens on wild-card Saturday.