Blowout losses becoming all too common for Steelers, who once again need to bounce back

Over their past 29 games — including a postseason appearance dating to Thanksgiving 2021 — the Pittsburgh Steelers have lost by at least three touchdowns seven times.

That means the Steelers haven’t been competitive in nearly 25% of those games.

Tough to find a silver lining in that dubious fact? How about that the Steelers have gained plenty of experience at the art of the so-called “bounceback win.” That’s something they have become remarkably adept at, and that could serve as some comfort for the team and its fans who are reeling from Sunday’s 30-6 loss at the Houston Texans.

“Of course you’re mad about it,” veteran outside linebacker Markus Golden said from UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Monday. “But it’s the NFL, man, so once the next week (of preparation) comes up like today, you’re about to go watch the film, and then you are right on to the next team.

“That’s the good thing about the NFL: You can come back that next week and prove yourself. And that’s the mindset we’re going to have.”

Beginning with a 41-10 loss at the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 28, 2021, through Sunday’s beatdown in Houston, the Steelers have been at the receiving end of blowout losses Dec. 26, 2021, at the Kansas City Chiefs (36-10), three weeks later back at Arrowhead Stadium in the playoffs (42-21), during Week 5 of last season at the Buffalo Bills (38-3), Week 8 of last season at the Philadelphia Eagles (35-13) and this season’s opener against the San Francisco 49ers (30-7).

In the game after each of their past six losses by 21 or more points, the Steelers won. (Albeit, the win after the playoff loss in Kansas City came some eight months later in the next season’s opener).

The Steelers could use a continuation of that trend with the rival Baltimore Ravens coming to Acrisure Stadium for a scheduled 1 p.m. kickoff Sunday. A victory in that game would have the Steelers tied for first place in the AFC North headed into their bye week. A loss would put them two games behind, with a head-to-head loss to the leaders.

“When you lose by as many touchdowns (as in Houston), that’s something that you have to go over the film and really dive into what went wrong,” veteran safety Keanu Neal said. “Because that shouldn’t happen. We shouldn’t allow that to happen. But a loss is a loss, for sure.”

To put the Steelers’ recent run of lopsided losses in perspective, consider that over this span of seven losses of 21 or more points, the Steelers have just two wins of more than 10 points. The Steelers’ largest margin of victory over the past 22 months was a 14-point home win against the Cleveland Browns in last season’s finale.

Despite their .500 record, the Steelers have a minus-38 season point differential that ranks as the seventh worst in the NFL. Over their past 29 games (including playoffs), the Steelers are an aggregate minus-140 points.

Still, they have a winning record over that span (15-14).

“It’s a business of winning,” Neal said. “You’ve got to win. If you don’t win, changes are made.”

Coach Mike Tomlin alluded to as much after Sunday’s game, though it remains to be seen what — if anything — might change before Sunday.

Over Tomlin’s first 14 ½ seasons before the aforementioned 31-point November 2021 loss in Cincinnati, the Steelers suffered just seven defeats of at least 21 points and just four of at least 22 points.

It has been happening a lot more often recently, but that doesn’t mean the Steelers have to sink their season.

“You’ve just got to really just lock in and learn from your mistakes and come out and do whatever you’ve got to do to fix it and try to stop (a blowout defeat) from happening again,” Golden said. “And I feel like we’ve got a lot of guys on this team that can do that.”

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