Offense came at a premium in last night’s Monday Night Football action. Whether it was quality defensive efforts or just poor offensive performances, fans across the league were unsatisfied with what they saw in the Week 2 doubleheader.
Despite the win, you can count the Pittsburgh Steelers fans in the group of unhappy patrons as well. The Steelers fought hard and pulled off a 26-22 win against the Cleveland Browns. Despite getting their first win of the year, the fans made it abundantly clear that they were ready for a change at play-caller.
Steelers Fans Are Looking for a Change
Steelers fans are known to be some of the most passionate fans in all of sports, and the Steel City’s faithful were unafraid of letting the world know how they felt about offensive coordinator Matt Canada last night.
#Steelers fans chanting "FIRE CANADA", as in Offensive Coordinator Matt Canadapic.twitter.com/sUGrKZSUO0https://t.co/yWJjaSBM3N
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 19, 2023
With 3:02 left in the game, a chant broke out at Acrisure Stadium that surely did not make anybody on the offense too comfortable, none more so than Canada, who was the subject of said chant.
“Fire Canada” was heard throughout the stadium as Steelers fans had simply seen enough from their offensive coordinator and are looking for a fresh start to help out second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett.
The Steelers Offense Has Been Very Pedestrian
When you break down the numbers of this Steelers offense, it isn’t hard to see why their fans may be looking for a change. Despite a young, exciting quarterback, pass catchers in Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, and Pat Freirmuth, and a young, quality running back in Najee Harris, the Steelers were ranked 23rd in total offense in 2022.
They finished the season averaging 322.6 yards per game while only mustering 18.1 points per game, numbers that placed them in the bottom third of the league. This year, they are actually on a worse pace than last year, as they only mustered 7 points against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1. After last night’s 26, they only average 16.5 points per game on the year through two games.
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It is still early, and things may change as the season settles in and grows longer, but right now, Steelers fans are not trying to hear that and have seen enough from Canada and this offensive staff.
Steelers fans want a change, and if things do not change in a hurry, they may just get what they want sooner rather than later.
Tomlin Hilariously Responds to Canada Criticism
Well, we can’t say that coaches don’t hear the fans.
After Canada was criticized for his offensive playcalling, HC Mike Tomlin took the time to defend his OC.
“I appreciate their passion. I share their passion. We all do. Man, we love our fans, man. They inspire us. They challenge us. It’s an awesome relationship. Man, we don’t run from challenges, we run to challenges. It is our job to win and thus entertain them. We don’t begrudge them for that. We want them to be fat and sassy and spoiled. It is our job.”
𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: #Steelers HC Mike Tomlin says he wants the fans to be “fat and sassy and spoiled” in response to them chanting to fire OC Matt Canada, via @DavidMTodd
He says that he appreciates the fanbases passion and that they challenge the team.
“I appreciate their… pic.twitter.com/dlFh6bIxHo
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) September 19, 2023