Mike Tomlin Says Steelers 'Died on the Vine' in Playoff Loss to Browns

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin didn't sugarcoat anything following his team's 48-37 playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. 

"We didn't do enough," Tomlin said of the game and late-season collapse, per Brooke Pryor of ESPN. "We didn't position them in enough good circumstances. We didn't make enough plays, particularly in the critical moments. We were a group that died on the vine."

There were some positive developments from Pittsburgh, as the offense caught fire in the second half while Ben Roethlisberger threw for 501 yards and four touchdowns.

However, he also threw four interceptions, and the defense struggled to make a single critical stop. Baker Mayfield threw three touchdowns for Cleveland, and the Steelers never overcame the 28-0 deficit they faced after the opening quarter.

A slow start was the exact opposite of Pittsburgh's season at large.

It started 11-0 and appeared to be on its way to the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in the AFC. Instead, it went just 1-4 in the final five regular season games and never led its sole playoff game against the Browns.

Questions now loom about Roethlisberger's future heading into the offseason after a disappointing exit for a team that once looked like a Super Bowl contender.