The Steelers starting off 0-4 for the first time 45 years would be enough to send any head coach into a rage, and Mike Tomlin is no different, as he sighed and cited his frustration after the once mighty Steelers dropped their fourth straight game at Wembley Stadium in England.
"All those big plays," Tomlin said. "Obviously a disappointing loss, but really who am I kidding? They all are, regardless of the manner of which they unfold."
A video of the press conference can be seen here.
With its defense aging, its offense losing key pieces in the offseason, and injuries such as the one Maurkice Pouncey suffered in Week 1 mounting, the Steelers are crumbling; once a perennial threat i the AFC they have become a shell of their former self, to the point where quarterback Ben Roethlisberger noted that the team is at the bottom of the barrel in the league.
"Right now you can say we are the worst team in the league," Roethlisberger said per Yahoo Sports.
Roethlisberger thus far is 103-for-162 (63.6%) for 1,231 yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions, and needs to improve on his number of picks if the team stands a chance.
Tomlin was upset that his defense couldn't stop running back Adrian Peterson or wide receiver Greg Jennings, who weaved through the Pittsburgh defense for a 70-yard touchdown reception during the game.
"Going to chew everything we've got coming," Tomlin said angrily before calmly trying to take a patient approach. "I have great patience. We'll continue to work and get better as long as I see belief and effort and continued improvement in detail because that's what's going to change the outcome of these games."
Peterson rushed for 140 yards on 23 carries through the Pittsburgh defense and added two touchdowns while Jennings had three reception for 92 yards and also reached the end zone twice, including the 70-yard reception for a touchdown.
Perhaps what was most frustrating was that they lost to backup quarterback Matt Cassel who was playing in the place of the injured Christian Ponder (ribs). Cassel went 16-for-25 for 248 yards with two touchdowns and a sack, and Minnesota was able to stave off a late Pittsburgh drive to leave them winless on the season.
Roethlisberger countered Cassel and went 36-for-51 for 383 yards with one touchdown and one interception, but with a makeshift offensive line due to Pouncey being lost for the season and left guard Ramon Foster leaving the game in the first quarter due to an unspecified pectoral injury, the quarterback was sacked five times in the defeat and threw an interception.
Still, despite the 0-4 start, Roethlisberger and the Steelers are still a confident group and believe they can turn it around after the team's bye week in Week 5.
"I have to hope we can turn it around," Roethlisberger told Yahoo! Sports. "You have to believe you are going to be part of something special. If you don't, you shouldn't be here."
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