Dolphins Down Steelers 16-10; Reaction To Another Woeful Loss

PITTSBURGH, PA — On the bright side, relatively speaking, the Steelers appear to be in line for a top-5 or top-10 pick in next year's NFL Draft. That's one of the few positives to emerge after the team fell to a dreadful 2-5 record in a 16-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday night.

Here's what writers across the country thought about the game:

• Brooke Pryor, ESPN: "Rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett was inserted at halftime of the Jets game to give the Steelers' offense a spark. In two starts since, the offense flickers like the flame of alighter running out of butane. Occasionally, everything clicks -- like the second-quarter drive in which George Pickenshauled in four targets and scored his first NFL touchdown. But othertimes, it quickly fizzles out, like the two would-be game-winning fourth-quarter drives that ended instead with red zone picks."

• Grant Gordon, NFL.com: "Pittsburgh offense remains offensive. This was a pretty valiant defensive effort for the Steelers defense and another dismal one for the offense. Sure, much can be made of the four dropped INTs by the defense, but Matt Canada's offense continues to disappoint. The offensive line continues to be a problem. Najee Harris has yet to top 100 scrimmage yards this year. A wealth of talented receivers is being held in check."

• John Breech, CBS Sports: "Kenny Pickett had a chance to be the hero of the game, but instead, hethrew three picks, including two that came in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter. All three of Pickett's interceptions came from inside Miami's 25-yard line. This a Steelers team going through growing pains and this loss was extra painful because it's a game they certainlycould have won."

• Lorenzo Reyes, USA Today: "Interceptions are typically a part of a young quarterback’s assimilation into the NFL, but Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett won’t develop into a reliable player until he solves this problem. Pickett (32-of-44 passing for 257 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions) has flashed mobility, an element that has been sorely missing from Pittsburgh’s passing game, but he has to ease his anxiety in the pocket and come to terms with checkdowns."

• Kevin Skiver, Sporting News: "The Steelers' inability to force turnovers — something that flies in the face of the reputation of Mike Tomlin's defense — was a massive issue throughout the night. The Steelers dropped four interceptions, the most of any NFL defense this season. Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa ended with a 21-of-35 passing line with a touchdown and no picks."