Smith is now facing significant criticism, with fans voicing their frustrations over an offense that has become increasingly predictable and stagnant. Despite early success, opposing defenses seem to have caught on to Smith’s tendencies, leaving the Steelers struggling to move the ball consistently. The lack of creativity in key moments and repeated reliance on ineffective play-calling have only added to the growing discontent among Steelers faithful.

Steelers OC Arthur Smith on balancing a desire to do better but not over-correcting in the face of a 4-game losing streak pic.twitter.com/aQ0HgtX1Ht

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) January 8, 2025

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Smith acknowledged the recent struggles and took responsibility for the offense’s shortcomings. He emphasized that adjustments are being made and promised that the team is working tirelessly to address the glaring issues. While Smith remains confident in his system and his players, the pressure is mounting, and fans will need to see immediate improvement to restore faith in his vision for the Steelers’ offense.

“You look at it a lot,” Smith said. “Going back to the previous question about trying not to outthink yourself because there’s other things as well. I mean I thought at times we were playing really good offense. Obviously, we have a hit a rut or whatever you want to call it.”

The most frustrating part of the Steelers’ offensive struggles is how drastically things have changed in just a few weeks. Not long ago, this same team put up 44 points against the Cincinnati Bengals, with Russell Wilson outplaying Joe Burrow in a standout performance.

Chaz Palla / TRIB LIVE

Steelers’ Arthur Smith talking with QB Russell Wilson during practice.

Instead of building on that success, the Steelers have shifted to an overly conservative game plan, focusing almost exclusively on the run and limiting Wilson’s opportunities to make plays through the air.

“However you slice it up, it’s not the result you want,” Smith said. “We need to change some things up. We can’t use that same logic that got us into that rut. That is the fun part about it. We are excited about playing in this game. Both teams know each other really well. That makes it fun.”

The approach has left fans baffled, as the offense seems to have abandoned what worked so well earlier in the season. Smith has since acknowledged the missteps, admitting that massive changes are needed to get the offense back on track. Now, it’s up to Smith to prove he can adapt and reignite the spark that once made this unit so dangerous.

Steelers’ Arthur Smith Must Fix This Offense Fast

The Steelers are now paying the price for their four-game losing streak. Once in control of the AFC North, they’ve stumbled into the postseason and must now hit the road for a tough first-round matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. The two teams split their regular-season series in 2024, with each side claiming one victory.

In their first meeting, the Steelers narrowly escaped with a win thanks to six field goals from Chris Boswell, as the offense failed to score a single touchdown. The Ravens also suffered from uncharacteristic missed kicks by Justin Tucker, which gave Pittsburgh just enough breathing room to secure the victory. In the second matchup, the Steelers fell 34-17, but the final score didn’t reflect how competitive the game was. Costly turnovers by Wilson ultimately swung the momentum in Baltimore’s favor.

CBS / NFL

Steelers’ Arthur Smith reacts to quarterback Russell Wilson throwing an interception in the red zone against the Ravens in 2024.

Now, with a playoff rematch looming, Smith’s offense will be looking for redemption. The Steelers must address their glaring offensive issues quickly, or their postseason run could be over as soon as it begins.