For any fans of the Black and Gold who need a little humor after their beloved Pittsburgh Steelers lost five straight to end the 2024 season—and with the team seemingly on the verge of a rebuild—HC Mike Tomlin has you covered.

The Steelers have won 80 regular-season games in the past eight seasons. They haven't won a playoff game in that same stretch, going 0-5. Tomlin said Tuesday his players frequently joke with him about one of his favorite cliches: "Two is a pattern." What about five?

Is Tomlin holding the Steelers back? Is it the other way around? Could it be both? There's much more to this story than the obvious.