Madden Monday: There's no nice way to put it — the Steelers are 'gutless'

I’ll admit it. This is an oversimplification of how to critique the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 26-7 dud of an effort against Buffalo on Sunday, but I’m most disappointed in how the players played on defense, and I’m most disappointed in how the players were coached on offense.

Sure, there is some bleed-over both ways, but that’s just one man’s opinion.

Actually, it’s the opinion of two men.

“I 100% agree,” said Mark Madden during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast. “I think that offense is prehistoric. It’s stupid. There’s not one good adjective I can provide to describe that offense, but plenty of negative. … I never thought (coordinator) Arthur Smith would be this incompetent. He makes Matt Canada look like a long-lost Shanahan.”

Well, let’s not get crazy.

“They outsmart themselves — or, maybe it’s out-stupid themselves — at every turn offensively,” Madden said.

That was evident when they ran Kenneth Gainwell on a failed 3rd-and-8, then, once again, on another 4th-and-2.

As for the defense?

“I thought (Sunday) was pathetic,” Madden added. “Especially when things go bad for the Steelers, they get worse so very quickly — as we saw in that third quarter.”

Madden blames a lack of emotional backbone.

“They’re gutless. There’s no nice way to put it. They’re gutless,” Madden said. “They have no (intestinal) fortitude. They don’t compete. They just whine and grimace and complain.”

Yet, somehow, the Steelers are still in an AFC North first-place tie with next week’s opponent, the Baltimore Ravens.

“They’re still in it, which is actually the saddest part about all this. They can keep fooling themselves and will either just make — or just miss — the playoffs,” Madden said. “Just win or just finish barely second in the division. It’s going to be close no matter how it finishes up. And they can keep the charade going.”

The Ravens opened as 6½-point favorites at BetRivers.com for Sunday’s 1 p.m. start in Baltimore.

Also during the podcast, Madden and I talk about Aaron Rodgers’ health, the Penguins’ weekend, Pitt’s loss at Acrisure Stadium to Miami, and Penn State’s coaching situation.