2012 Pittsburgh Steelers Season

Season Summary: The 2012 Steelers were good enough to compete but not consistent enough to contend. Big Ben started sharp, but a rib and shoulder injury in November forced him to miss 3 games and derailed the offense when it mattered most. Rashard Mendenhall's return from ACL surgery never took hold, and the carousel of backs behind him left the ground attack unreliable.

The defense again ranked #1 in yards, but lacked the edge that once made it dominant. Polamalu missed much of the season, James Harrison was limited, and the pass rush no longer controlled games. They were still physical, but the splash plays that defined the unit in recent years were largely gone.

Close losses defined the season. The Steelers dropped 5 games by a field goal, including late stumbles against Baltimore, Tennessee, Oakland, and Dallas. December was the breaking point as they lost 5 of 6, including a sloppy road loss to the 2-8 Browns. A last-minute FG by Cinci at Heinz Field eliminated them from playoff contention, though they won a meaningless finale over Cleveland to finish 8-8. For many fans, it was the start of a pattern under Mike Tomlin... avoiding losing seasons but failing to turn talented rosters into championships.