Najee Harris fed up with Steelers offense after loss to Browns
from Vinny Somma, with Yardbarker.com/www.yardbarker.com
Earlier this season, Najee Harris was one of the most front-facing supporters of the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive, publicly calling out critics of coordinator Matt Canada. Fast forward 10 games into the 2023 season and the team’s leading rusher is changing his tune.
In the wake of a 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Harris aired his frustration with the lingering offensive inconsistencies haunting the Steelers offense.
“There’s just a lot of stuff that just goes around that you guys don’t see,” Harris told reporters, via Arye Pulli. “I guess I’m trying to say it’s just, I’m just at a point where I’m just tired of this s—.”
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Sunday marked the fourth time in six games that the Steelers offense has produced 20 points or fewer. Pittsburgh currently averages 16.6 points per game this season and is the lone team ranked within the bottom 16 of NFL scoring offenses to own a record above .500.
Big Ben on the Steelers Offense:
“They need to look themselves in the mirror as an offense.”
?YT/Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger pic.twitter.com/28mvtg9uvq
— Matthew Luciow (@matthewluciow92) November 19, 2023
Harris, who had averaged a healthy 4.8 YPC over his last two outings, saw his production plummet against Cleveland, rushing for 35 yards on 12 carries. Pittsburgh’s passing game did little to counteract Harris’ struggles as Kenny Pickett’s 106-yard performance marked the fourth consecutive game the quarterback has thrown for 160 yards or fewer, tossing just one touchdown over that span.
With their loss to the Browns, the Steelers dropped to third place in a hard-fought AFC North. While season-ending injuries to Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and Cincinnati Bengals signal-caller Joe Burrow should help ease the path to the postseason for Pittsburgh, the Steelers offense must do its part to keep the team in contention.
Thus far, the unit looks far from playoff-caliber and it’s difficult to envision that changing over the next eight games the way it is currently constructed.
MORE on this issue, from YardBarker.com:
Ben Roethlisberger puts Steelers on notice after putrid offensive showing
from Vinny Somma
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.