...... and the joke’s on the Steelers.In an upset of unimaginable proportions, the Steelers were beat 27-24 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this afternoon at Heinz Field.This is the Tampa Bay team that lost 56-14 in its last game. This is the Tampa Bay team that was playing with a new starting quarterback, some guy named Mike Glennon.There’s a name to remember. He won’t soon be forgotten by the Steelers.Take the shocking lack of discipline the Steelers have shown all season, add to that an aging and weak defense and then throw in three new starters on that unit and the result was the second half from hell.Glennon, Mr. Inept in the first half, turned into an all-pro against the motley crew the Steelers put up against him. After meekly throwing for 57 yards in the first half, Glennon torched the Steelers for 245 in the second half.Worse, the Steelers’ offense -- which includes a quarterback with a Hall of Fame resume, a wide receiver who has elevated his game to super-elite status and a running back some are calling the best in the NFL -- could not get a first down on its final possession and had to turn the ball over to the Bucs with 40 seconds remaining.That’s all Glennon needed. As the result of a 36-yard punt, Tampa Bay took over on the Steelers' 46. On second down Glennon threw 41 yards to Louis Murphy, who was signed off the street last week but still good enough to beat the Steelers’ secondary.After a spike and two incompletions, Glennon found Vincent Jackson in the end zone -- with William Gay trailing -- for the 5-yard score.The Steelers manhandled the Bucs on the stat sheet but not on the scoreboard in the first half. They only led, 17-10, despite leading in yardage 253-64 and first downs, 18-5. Maybe it was too easy for the Steelers in the first half.They sure weren’t expecting what Tampa Bay gave them in the second half. The Bucs outgained the Steelers, 286-137, and led in first downs, 16-9. Imagine that: the team that allowed 56 points in its last game held the Steelers to seven points and 137 yards in the second half.The lack of discipline mentioned earlier should have been addressed a long time ago by the coaching staff. The Steelers had six 15-yard penalties. That is absolutely unacceptable and speaks to a team that is lacking in discipline in a big-time way.That reflects on the players and it reflects on the coaches and it is incumbent on Mike Tomlin that he fix it.The theory -- based mostly on last week’s strong performance -- that the offensive line was jelling into a top-notch unit, was destroyed by a Tampa Bay defense that sacked Ben Roethlisberger five times in the first half. One of those sacks turned into a fumble that gave the Bucs the ball on the Steelers’ 9, from where they scored on two plays.Nor was the running game up to the standards of the week before. The line opened up big holes a couple of times for Le’Veon Bell but at the end of the day he carried 19 times for 63 yards.Maybe NFL analyst and former NFL great running back LaDainian Tomlinson will change his mind about Bell, of whom he said, “Right now, I would take Le’Veon Bell over any running back in the league . . . he can do it all. He can run inside, he has the speed to turn the corner, he can catch the football. He’s versatile, he’s athletic. I love Le’Veon Bell.’’Coming up for the Steelers is Jacksonville, which went into its game against San Diego today at 0-3. That should be no comfort for the Steelers.In their past 15 games against teams with losing records the Steelers are 6-9. http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/smizik-on-sports/2014/09/28/Bob-Smizik-Steelers-stunned-and-humiliated/stories/201409280224
