Luke’s Steeler Takeaways- Week 8 Loss vs Packers

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Coming off of two straight losses, the Steelers head into a matchup with the surprising NFL best Indianapolis Colts. Some of the ugly parts of 2024-2025 popped back up again in Cincinnati and on Sunday night in a Heinz Field home game filled with loudly cheering CheeseHeads. Here are a few takeaways to consider what the 4-3 Steelers should do to stay in first place in the AFC North.

Is Tomlin’s Time Over?

James Franklin at Penn State and Brian Kelly at LSU were both fired in October from high-profile football programs. Even though its at the college level, is it now time for the Steelers to make the change?

I think so, but it should come after this season. Are the coaches on staff now ready for the NFL? Arthur Smith’s record as NFL head coach, 21-30, is not an upgrade. No one else on staff has head coaching experience at this level. So maybe Tomlin can make the unexpected but needed change he seems unwilling to make. Actual game time adjustments instead of emphasizing player responsibility and then trying to force their style of game onto their opponent, “in stadium” as Tomlin often says to the press.

After an off season of signing multiple veterans with quality careers, the defense ranks towards the bottom of the NFL in multiple categories. Tomlin’s Tuesday Press Conference, where is pictured talking here, was dominated by questions about defense.

More Defensive Blunders

This defense continues to disappoint every Steelers fan in the country by letting up another 30 point performance. That’s 4 out of 7 games this season that they have let up 30 or more points.

Packers Tight End Tucker Kraft, on National Tight End Day in the NFL, put up personal record numbers against the Steelers secondary and the best numbers for a tight end across the league: 7 receptions, 143 yards, and 2 touchdowns in the game. He also became the only Tight End in GB history w/ 300+ rec yds & 4+ rec TD through first 6 games.

*Coach Tomlin’s Flacco fears turned out to be true as Ja’Marr Chase put up a record 16 receptions against the Steelers secondary in their 33-31 loss on Thursday Night Football.*

This has to stop. With DeSean Elliot’s knee injury taking him out of the lineup, the team traded away a 6th round pick for Patriots safety Kyle Duggar on Oct 29th. Will they make another move to trade a high profile piece like Alex Highsmith or even the beloved T.J. Watt? Move Watt across the line to make him less predictable? Trade Darius Slay? Start rushing more then 4? Actually make in-game adjustments in the 2nd half that work? Whatever Tomlin does, he needs to do it fast and find what works.

Trade Deadline Proposals

With the trade deadline November 4th, the Steelers need to make some moves. Many people think they should go out and get another wide receiver to give Aaron Rodgers another weapon. One name floating around has been Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. Another is wide out Jakobi Meyers.

Thomas Jr would be very good for the Steelers. Now, what would they give up for him? My trade idea would be the Steelers send Alex Highsmith and third round pick for Brian Thomas Jr and a fourth round pick in return. Highsmith is an impact player, but considering his recent injury history, trading him now and having Herbig play more is worth getting the upgrade while you have maybe the best part of 2025 Steelers – Aaron Rodgers.