PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Steelers lost a disappointing rivalry game to the Baltimore Ravens. They didn’t take advantage of the chance to secure the title in the AFC North Division and fought a duel with their bitter rivals at the top of the table.

It was a disappointing result for the Steelers, which largely depended on two critical turnovers attributed to their starting quarterback Russell Wilson. It was the first time during Wilson’s run in Pittsburgh that he looked fallible. As the haze clears, the magical run that Wilson experienced in the first seven weeks is long gone.

If there was a game where the Steelers could rely on their starting QB, it was this one. They were once again without their best offensive weapon, George Pickens. Their offense was also non-existent against the Philadelphia Eagles the previous week and they desperately needed a rebound game. They needed a performance from their starting quarterback, but instead they suffered two turnovers and a 34-17 loss.

“It’s really two negative plays,” he said during his postgame press conference. “They made two crucial plays against us and I can’t let that happen.”

The problem is that he allowed them against the Ravens. These kinds of plays probably never happen in his first few weeks as a starter. Instead of coughing up a fumble, he might slip earlier. Instead of throwing a pass behind the intended receiver, he is likely to place the ball where only his receiver can catch it.

Unfortunately, Wilson was much more active in creating turnovers than he was in creating drives. And while mistakes are inevitable, the magic lies in making up for them and overcoming the setbacks. It’s been more of a struggle for Wilson and the Steelers’ offense over the last three games.

To be clear: Wilson didn’t lose the game for the Steelers. That’s largely because the defense failed to stop Baltimore’s running game. But Wilson needs to get better. He threw for 158, 128 and 217 pass yards in his last three games. The Steelers are 1-2 in those games and have gone from a strange lead at the division lead to a tie with the Ravens. Wilson may not be the problem in Pittsburgh, but the magic has faded and there is plenty of work to be done.

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