LAST Week: 8-8 OVERALL: 126-79-2

WHEELING — Call it being a defender, an apologist or any other derogatory word you can come up with. But almost without fail I have backed Mike Tomlin being the coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, even when the rest of the wolves were showing their teeth.

That ends today, right in this space.

Tomlin’s arrogance in not putting Ben Roethlisberger back into a game that was very much still up in the air should be a fireable offense. It was a must-win situation against what at the time was a 2-10 team that is in full rebuild mode, especially considering the schedule that lies ahead, and Tomlin elected to keep his franchise quarterback on the sideline until the team fell behind. I called that exact scenario taking place as soon as Roethlisberger returned to the sideline and later could be seen twisting his core in an effort to get loose, but more importantly to show the world that was watching he was ready to go back in and the coaches opted not to play him.

And now we’re blaming the entire fiasco on an antiquated X-ray machine in Oakland Alameda County Coliseum? This keeps getting better by the day.

Let’s also not overlook Tomlin’s reluctance to call a timeout with the Raiders inside the 10 and getting ready to tack on what became the game-winning points. He let 38 seconds run off the clock because, in Tomlin’s words, he was worried ”about winning the sequence”. Well, the same defense that was on the field had been for weeks, again in Tomlin’s words, getting by on smoke and mirrors. That same defense that was on the field had in the previous two weeks allowed long, game-winning drives in the final minutes to both the L.A. Chargers and Denver Broncos.

Tuesday during his weekly meeting with the press, Tomlin acknowledged the Steelers aren’t going to essentially keep trying to fit a round peg into a square hole and changes will be made.

That’s rich considering it’s Week 15 and the team has been allowed to have its playoff chances go on life support.

I mean, all the Steelers have to do is win two of their final three games to logistically make the playoffs. Oh, the next two are against New England and New Orleans, by the way. You may have heard those teams have quarterbacks who are as adept at anyone in the world in terms of manipulating opposing defenses in order to get favorable matchups. In the Steelers’ world, all that means is getting an inside linebacker that can’t run matched up on a running back, receiver or tight end and not bumping him off the line in order to mess up the play’s timing.

All of this happened, mind you, in a week where the Ravens, Patriots and Texans all lost. It was a crucial week for the Steelers and Tomlin blew it.

But, hey, changes are coming. After what we’ve heard in the immediate aftermath of the loss to the Raiders and since, that sounds believable, right?

Thursday

L.A. Chargers 40

Kansas City 38

Some of the luster has been taken off this matchup with the announcement the Chargers will be without their top two running backs. That’s a shame because a victory here would tie them with the Chiefs for the top spot in the AFC West. These teams met in the season-opener with Kansas City coming away with a 38-28 victory in Los Angeles. I know Patrick Mahomes has a NFL-leading 43 TD passes, but when the games get critical I will always go with the more experienced QB.

Saturday

Houston 33, N.Y. Jets 3

Here we go with the NFL hijacking our entire week again. Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays just weren’t enough. Texans losing to the Colts last week was a present the Steelers weren’t willing to accept. No such luck this week as the Jets won’t put up a fight.

Denver 24, Cleveland 23

The Broncos had a playoff berth more or less handed to them on a silver platter. Maybe in Denver they only like gold. That’s the only explanation for losing to the 49ers. I’m telling you right now, Cleveland and Baker Mayfield are going to be a problem for years to come. It’s officially time to say that John Dorsey has finally cleaned up what has been a yearly mess.

Sunday

N.Y. Giants 27, Tennessee 20

This is a game the Titans absolutely have to have. They’re in a four-way tie for the second and final AFC wild-card spot, but their conference record has them at the bottom of that list. A victory here won’t help as it pertains to that last part, but it keeps them in the running. A couple times I thought Tennessee was ready to take the next step, so not going to make that mistake again.

Chicago 26, Green Bay 17

The NFC North is the Bears’ to win, and all they have to do is win the games they should in order to get it done. This one certainly classifies as just that, despite the Packers going into Atlanta last week and whipping the Falcons. This Chicago team has a different aura about it.

Buffalo 6, Detroit 3

If this was college football we would classify this game as ”The Nobody Cares Bowl” and be done with it. As it stands, some portions of the country will be forced to endure this one. The other option is drinking copious amounts of battery acid, which given the choice I would do rather than watch this game.

Baltimore 21, Tampa Bay 19

Surely the Ravens can’t keep up this mirage, can they? It’s scary to think about but the schedule down the home stretch as least ostensibly says it’s possible. Can Baltimore keep Tampa Bay from one of its explosions that have been hit or miss this season?

Atlanta 54, Arizona 47

If battery acid is the only logical choice for Buffalo-Detroit, this one has to be bleach, right? There are some terrible matchups in the league this week. I honestly cannot come up with something fun or interesting to talk about in this instance.

Cincinnati 35, Oakland 10

Here is the point in the show where the Raiders follow up beating the Steelers by getting blown out by Jeff Driskel and the Bengals. You couldn’t make this up if you tried, so don’t bother. It’s the way of the world in the NFL.

Indianapolis 28, Dallas 25

The Cowboys have essentially run away with the NFC Least. Never thought I would be typing those words. While admitting that is difficult for me, let’s have another chat after the playoffs. Basically I’m doubling down on this one in hopes of looking better in the end.

Minnesota 16, Miami 12

The Dolphins’ trickery at the end of last week’s game against New England was nothing more than a stay of execution. As usual they aren’t getting into the playoffs, but they’ll bleed their six fans for more money for another couple weeks. The Vikings are teetering on the edge of playoff extinction themselves, needing this one badly to hold onto the final spot.

Jacksonville 2, Washington 0

There’s talk that Tom Coughlin may be considering coming out of the front office and becoming the head coach in Jacksonville for the second time. If you’re keeping score at home, that’s 72-year-old Tom Coughlin, who was the coach of the expansion Jaguars … in 1995. To give one an idea of how long ago that was, it was the year I graduated from high school. I guess that makes both Coughlin and myself old. Also, it makes Jacksonville terrible.

Seattle 28, San Francisco 9

One team nobody is talking about is the Seahawks, who have won four in a row and are comfortably slotted in the fifth position (first wild-card spot) in the NFC. Given the roster he has, Pete Carroll, for my money, is the hands-down NFL Coach of the Year. The 49ers have a chance to throw a wrench in the plans, though.

New England 37, Pittsburgh 31

Those who read this space often know there’s rarely a time when I pick against the Steelers. I don’t necessarily think they won’t win this game — I do, in fact — but logic says that it’s nearly impossible. Tom Brady with those little, nondescript receivers and Rob Gronkowski against Pittsburgh’s immobile inside linebackers sounds like a scene out of a horror flick. There’s also another side of me that says this is the kind of game the Steelers win, with their backs to the wall against a team that has had their number and everyone counting them out. This is different, though, as there is a pile of evidence to suggest they’re in fact down and out. Good teams find a way to win close games. Pittsburgh has not been able to get it done and thus is not a good team.

L.A. Rams 34, Philadelphia 17

Another example of how much times have changed since the schedule came out. Philadelphia, coming off the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory, has fallen flat on its face. After just missing out on the party a season ago, the Rams are back and more hungry than ever, although last week’s result indicates they can be had on the right day.

Monday

New Orleans 38, Carolina 15

Ditto the above statement. Only in this case, the Saints are the ones who is the pseudo-surprise. Though it has already clinched the NFC South, New Orleans needs to keep winning in its quest for the No. 1 seed.

Shawn Rine can be reached via email at: srine@theintelligencer.net