Ben Roethlisberger puts Steelers on notice after Week 11

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett. Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Ben Roethlisberger puts Steelers on notice after putrid offensive showing

By Vinny Somma | Last updated 11/20/23

In a division that has lost half of its starting quarterbacks to season-ending injuries over the past week, the Pittsburgh Steelers — with a healthy Kenny Pickett — may be the AFC North offense riddled with the most question marks.

In Sunday's 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns, the Steelers offense mustered up just 249 total yards — 74 of which came on a Jaylen Warren touchdown scamper. Pickett completed 15-of-28 passes for a putrid 106 yards, connecting with No. 1 receiver Diontae Johnson for less than three completions for the second consecutive week (two receptions for 16 yards).

After the loss, franchise legend Ben Roethlisberger took to his podcast, “Footbahlin," to air out his grievances with Pittsburgh's lackluster showing and advising "They need to look themselves in the mirror as an offense.”

Roethlisberger wasn't the only person with ties to the Steelers organization to vent their frustration on Sunday. Internally, cracks are beginning to show, as running back Najee Harris put the offense on blast after the loss.

"There's just a lot of stuff that just goes around that you guys don't see," Harris told reporters. "I guess I'm trying to say it's just, I'm just at a point where I'm just tired of this s---."

While the vibe in Pittsburgh is down, the Steelers still sit in the final AFC wild-card spot with a 6-4 record. Nevertheless, their offense must improve leaps and bounds if they hope to make any noise come playoff time — should their ineptitude not boot them from contention altogether.

Of the bottom 16 scoring offenses in football, the Steelers are the lone team with a record above .500. Their 16.6 PPG are the fifth-worst in the NFL, and they've scored 20 points or fewer in four over their last six games.

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