If you watched the Pittsburgh Steelers get smacked around last Thursday night by the Philadelphia Eagles, you probably still have that nasty taste in your mouth. As dreadful a performance that was on display Thursday night, the Steelers still have to face the Carolina Panthers this Thursday in the final game of the preseason.
Typically, the final preseason game is reserved for the players that are still vying for a roster spot, while the starters stand on the sidelines laughing and spitting sunflower seeds.
However, this team isn't typical, and head coach Mike Tomlin would be wise to play his starters for longer than a series in the final preseason game after the showing they had against the Eagles.
Obviously, if a player is injured they should not be in the lineup, but the Steelers' offense and defense need to have a strong performance heading into the regular season.
It doesn't even matter what defense they face for the Panthers. Even if they run their third string offense and defense on the field, the Steelers should still work their starters for at least a few series, as they did against the Buffalo Bills in the second preseason game.
One of the most troubling aspects of the Eagles' loss was the miscommunication and blown assignments. There will always be physical mistakes, but the mental mistakes are the ones that need to be ironed out before the team takes the field against the Cleveland Browns on September 7th.
The Steelers no huddle offense looked lethargic and out of sync, and the defense looked confused and bewildered. All the more reason for Tomlin to put his players in for at least a few series to help them regain some of the confidence that was gained in the Bills victory.
Fans should realize that the Steelers don't want to walk into Heinz Field, even to face the Browns, in Week 1 with the performance they put on the field against the Eagles as the last performance they had on the field together.