PITTSBURGH — Not up to 13 hours later a victory, Pittsburgh Steelers schoolteacher Mike Tomlin admitted his offense wasn’t taking part in as much as the extent it completed within the preseason.

Via two video games, the Steelers’ offense is averaging 9.5 issues in line with sport and a league-low 12 first downs. On Monday night time, Pittsburgh simplest had 9 first downs and didn’t run a unmarried pink zone play games in a 26-22 victory in opposition to the Cleveland Browns.

And but, Tomlin stated the answer wasn’t in making “knee-jerk” reactions to enact “wholesale changes.”

“We have to get our mojo back,” Tomlin stated Tuesday. “We got to get that mojo that we had in the preseason where we’re playing fast and fluid with confidence, individually and collectively. We’ve lost that, to be blunt, in the last several weeks.

“… We do recognize that two is a development. We’ve had two outings that don’t seem to be as much as snuff in that regard, and so it has our consideration as we’re making ready for this then one.”

The 26 points scored by the Steelers without a red zone drive were the team’s most in the last 45 years — and the most in the NFL since the Kansas City Chiefs had 27 vs. the New Orleans Saints in 2016.

The Steelers managed just one offensive touchdown in each of their first two games, a far cry from the five touchdowns scored on the first team’s five preseason possessions. Pickett has been erratic so far this season, completing just 60.5% of his attempts — ahead of only starting quarterbacks Bryce Young, Joe Burrow, Bryce Young, Deshaun Watson and Zach Wilson.

“He’s accomplished a quantity of items neatly in preparation,” Tomlin said of Pickett. “He may just play games higher — all of us may just play games higher — however procedurally I love what I see from him. And normally when a man procedurally is in the correct spot, the efficiency quickly follows.”

The run game is also stagnant with only 96 net rushing yards at an average of 3.1 yards per carry, which ranks 27th in the league. The Steelers have also punted 13 times this season, tied for most in the league.

Since Matt Canada was elevated to offensive coordinator in 2021, the Steelers’ offense has sputtered and struggled to consistently move the ball. Since that time, every other NFL team has had at least three games with 400 total yards of offense; the Steelers have had none.

“We’re no longer assigning blame for any individual. Clearly it begins with training,” Tomlin said of the offense’s slow start. “We were given to schoolteacher higher. We were given to get those guys taking part in sooner with extra fluidity. We were given to begin sooner. We need to play games extra coordinated, specifically on the early phases of video games.”

With the offensive struggles predating the 2022 season, the frustration among the fan base reached a fever pitch Monday night.

Steelers fans at Acrisure Stadium grew restless with each additional punt Monday night, booing the offense when it came off the field after fruitless drives.

“It’s were given to get us going,” tight end Pat Freiermuth said after the game. “Clearly it’s by no means amusing, however we were given to be informed from that, and clearly it’s extra of a motivation to let’s get this factor going. We adore the fanatics right here, and clearly they be expecting just right soccer, so I’ll be looking to proceed to get just right soccer and wins for them.”

By the team’s seventh punt Monday night, a loud chant imploring Tomlin to fire offensive coordinator Matt Canada enveloped the stadium.

Asked about it Tuesday, Tomlin didn’t criticize the fans for their words.

“I respect their hobby,” Tomlin said. “I proportion their hobby. All of us do, guy. We adore our fanatics, guy. They encourage us. They problem us. It’s a fantastic courting, guy. We don’t run from demanding situations. We run to demanding situations.

“This is a sport entertainment business. It is our job to win and thus entertain them, and so we don’t begrudge them for that. We want them to be fat and sassy and spoiled. It is our job.”