How Mike Tomlin’s Legendary Steelers Streak Could Be on the Brink of an Unbelievable Record-Breaking Milestone

Is it just me, or does the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first-quarter offense under Mike Tomlin have a knack for testing our patience like no other? Thursday night’s nail-biter in Cincinnati extended Tomlin’s curious—and frankly, frustrating—run of slim starts under the big lights, pushing him to an 0-7 skid on the road against AFC North foes on Thursdays. But here’s the kicker: the Steelers have now limped through 56 straight games scoring seven or fewer points in the opening quarter—an NFL record that’s as bizarre as it is maddening. Watching veteran QB Aaron Rodgers battle through mistakes and a defense that just couldn’t hold firm, I can’t help but wonder: How much longer can this pattern persist before it erodes the team’s real contender status? Let’s dive into what’s behind this slow-start syndrome—and why, despite the hiccups, Pittsburgh’s season is far from over.

CINCINNATI, OHIO - OCTOBER 16: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter in the game at Paycor Stadium on October 16, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. — (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

The Pittsburgh Steelers fell 33-31 to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night, extending Mike Tomlin’s troubling streak in divisional road games under the lights.

The loss dropped Tomlin to 0-7 on the road against AFC North opponents on Thursdays, adding another chapter to a pattern that has defined his tenure in these matchups.

Beyond the defeat itself, a new statistic surfaced that underscores Pittsburgh’s persistent slow-start issues throughout Tomlin’s era.

The Steelers have now gone 56 consecutive games scoring seven or fewer first-quarter points, the longest streak by any coach in NFL history.

“This is actually an insane record. Now 56 STRAIGHT GAMES(!) with 7 or fewer 1st quarter points for the Tomlin Steelers. No coach has a longer streak in NFL history,” Warron Sharp shared on X.

this is actually an insane record

now 56 STRAIGHT GAMES(!) with 7 or fewer 1st quarter points for the Tomlin Steelers

no coach has a longer streak in NFL history pic.twitter.com/JD1FPojg8d

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 17, 2025

Cincinnati capitalized on Pittsburgh’s sluggish beginning, rushing for 142 yards while veteran quarterback Joe Flacco threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns in his second start since leaving Cleveland.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers appeared visibly frustrated as mistakes mounted throughout the contest.

Errors plagued Pittsburgh from start to finish.

Zach Frazier snapped the ball prematurely in the red zone, and Jaylen Warren botched a flea-flicker play, contributing to the overall breakdown.

Defensively, Pittsburgh failed to meet expectations despite Tomlin’s reputation for strong defensive units.

Jalen Ramsey and T.J. Watt underperformed against a Bengals offensive line that had struggled all season, allowing Cincinnati’s offense to deliver a surprising performance.

The Steelers remain legitimate contenders in the AFC North despite falling to 4-2.

However, trap games continue haunting this team, and Thursday provided another painful reminder.

Pittsburgh had the chance to silence critics, but instead raised more questions heading forward.

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