Early Christmas for Pittsburgh Steelers Fans as Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada Fired
Pittsburgh Steelers finally gave their fans an early Christmas present by firing offensive coordinator Matt Canada after a disappointing 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. This came as a relief for many fans who were worried that the ineffective Canada would be retained for the rest of the season, or even into the next season. It was unusual for the Steelers’ front office to fire a coach during the season, as they were known for being too loyal to a fault. However, the calls from the fans for Canada’s dismissal had been relentless since the start of the season, leading to the uncommon decision to let him go.
The team’s head coach, Mike Tomlin, expressed his gratitude for Canada’s hard work and dedication while wishing him the best in his future endeavors. Despite the team’s winning record this season, the offense had been struggling with an average of only 16.6 points per game, ranking them #28 in the NFL.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett’s passing attack was lackluster, with only six touchdown passes in 10 games. As a result, the team had scored 10 or fewer points in four games this season, sparking further frustration among fans.
The Steelers have a solid defense, which has kept them in most games this season, but their unproductive offense had put them in a tough spot. Interim options for offensive coordinator are quarterbacks coach Mile Sullivan and running backs coach Eddie Faulkner.
Looking ahead, the Steelers are set to face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 12. With the Bengals now playing with a backup quarterback due to a season-ending injury to Joe Burrow, the Steelers remain hopeful for a better offensive performance. In terms of betting odds, the Steelers are currently +7500 to win the Super Bowl and +3500 to win the AFC Championship.
In an updated playoff projection, the Steelers have a 69% chance of making the postseason and a 15% chance of securing the division crown. However, they are -135 odds to make the playoffs and +110 odds to miss the postseason. Despite Canada’s dismissal, the odds for the Steelers in the futures market have not significantly changed. The team still has a challenging road ahead, with the Ravens currently the favorite to win the AFC North.
