It’s not often Pittsburgh Steelers fans come up with a nightmare scenario that involves their team winning.
But for those who wanted offensive coordinator Matt Canada fired, this was it.
All week, the various possibilities had been discussed. If the Steelers get blown out by the Baltimore Ravens, will they finally fire Canada — even though it is in-season — because they have the bye week to work out any kinks?
However, if the Steelers win — but show no signs of offensive improvement — will they convince themselves that they are in good enough shape at 3-2 and atop the AFC North so that no changes need to be made?
Well, that second scenario is what happened Sunday at Acrisure Stadium. The Steelers beat the Ravens 17-10. The offense didn’t look particularly good doing it. But it made one big play at the end of the game. The defense and special teams made a few more, and the Steelers are in first place at the bye.
Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive has a warning for the anti-Canada crew in this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast.
“Those who wanted Matt Canada fired? Today means he won’t. Not this season. If he was ever going to get canned midseason — and that was a long shot to begin with — if it was going to happen, it was going to happen now, at the bye week,” Madden said.
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After a victory over the Ravens, though, forget it, even if the offense struggled in the process. It only averaged 3.8 yards per play, aside from the big touchdown pass from Kenny Pickett to George Pickens.
“What a great call he made on that long pass to Pickens to win the game. Hey, if Pickett can play terribly the whole game and get praised for one pass. I’m going to praise Canada for one call the whole game,” Madden quipped.
That touchdown is going to get a lot of scrutiny this week because it sounds like Pickett may have been the one to check into that play.
Regardless, Madden says don’t get too high on the supply of Steelers enthusiasm just because they are on top of a bad lot in the AFC North.
“I’m not convinced about anything as a result of today,” Madden said. “I just think they’re a bad football team. Even being 3-2, I think it’s an outlier. The numbers don’t lie, but in this case, they do. I’m not impressed by anything. They made some good plays like (Miles) Killebrew with the blocked punt, (Larry) Ogunjobi punching out that fumble, Watt and Highsmith are animals, Peezy’s kid (Joey Porter Jr.) had a pick. George Pickens was a monster. I mean, there is credit to go around. But they were still extremely lucky to win the game.”
Also, in the podcast, Mark and I diagnose some problems the Steelers may have coming out of the bye. We discuss the Penguins’ opener against Chicago, the return of RMU Hockey and Phil Jurkovec’s demotion at Pitt.
