Posted on: November 21, 2023, 10:36h.
Last updated on: November 21, 2023, 10:36h.
Green Bay, WI — Christmas came early for football fans in Pittsburgh. The low-scoring Steelers have finally parted ways with offensive coordinator Matt Canada after an ugly 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Fans were concerned that the Steelers would continue with the ineffective Canada for the remainder of the season, even into next season.
The front office’s strong loyalty and history of not firing a coach mid-season has frustrated fans. Their frustration was evident with “Fire Canada!” chants at home games and even at Pittsburgh Penguins hockey games at PPG Paints Arena.
But things became so dire that the Steelers broke tradition and dismissed Canada.
“Matt Canada has been relieved of his duties as offensive coordinator,” said head coach Mike Tomlin in an official statement. “I appreciate Matt’s hard work and dedication and I wish him the best moving forward in his career.”
The Steelers are 6-4 this season, currently holding the second place in the AFC North behind the Baltimore Ravens. If the season ended today, the Steelers would secure the final AFC Wild Card spot. However, they are facing competition from the Buffalo Bills, who went 1-0 after firing offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey.
What Went Wrong?
Minneapolis, MN — The Steelers’ offensive woes led to Canada’s dismissal. The team averages only 16.6 points per game, ranking #28 in the NFL. They’re also ranked #31 in passing touchdowns and #29 in total touchdowns this season.
The Steelers scored more than 21 points in a game only four times this season. They scored 10 or fewer points in four games.
The Steelers’ passing attack generated just 170 yards per game, the second-worst in the NFL. In ten games this season, quarterback Kenny Pickett has thrown only six touchdown passes for 1,722 yards. Pickett has thrown one touchdown in the last five games.
Canada took over as the offensive coordinator in 2021. Initially, the Steelers averaged 22 points per game under Canada. However, the offense has experienced a steady decline. They dipped to 18.1 points per game last season, ranking sixth-worst in the league.
The Steelers have a winning record, largely due to solid defense that has kept them competitive in almost every game this season. Seven games this season were decided by one score. The Steelers were outgained in every game with a negative point differential of -29, yet they maintain a winning record.
What’s Next?
The Steelers head to Cincinnati to play the Bengals in Week 12 in another divisional matchup. The Bengals lost quarterback Joe Burrow to a season-ending wrist injury, which makes them a +1 home underdog against the Steelers on Sunday.
From a betting perspective, the Steelers are 6-4 against the point spread this season, while the Bengals have a 4-5-1 ATS record.
Despite the shakeup, the Steelers’ Super Bowl odds are +7500, and +3500 to win the AFC Championship. In contrast, the Ravens are favored to win the AFC North at -225 odds, followed by the Browns, Steelers, and Bengals with the highest odds to win the division.
According to Upshot, the Steelers have a 69% chance of making the playoffs, a 15% chance of securing the division, and a 2% chance of winning the Super Bowl. The Steelers’ odds to make the playoffs are -135, with odds of +110 to miss the postseason.