Mark Madden: Steelers need to show more toughness or risk familiar finish

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ season might wind up packing no surprises.

The Steelers built a good record by beating mostly bad teams as the first half of their schedule dictated.

An unthinkable loss made its semi-regular appearance Nov. 21 at Cleveland. (The Browns were 2-8 going into the game.)

Now the big kids are starting to arrive at the playground.

The Steelers lost 27-13 at Philadelphia on Sunday in a game not nearly as close as the score. The Steelers were not just outplayed but physically bludgeoned.

Is it just me, or are the Steelers soft? They’re manhandled more than they manhandle. It’s not difficult to play the Steelers. Nobody’s afraid. Ain’t no James Harrison on that roster.

Now the Steelers visit Baltimore on Saturday.

The Steelers beat the Ravens in eight of the teams’ last nine meetings and have a hex on Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Whether it’s mental on Jackson’s part or tactical on the Steelers’ part — the Steelers do an efficient job keeping him between the tackles — the two-time NFL MVP struggles badly when he sees black and gold.

It doesn’t feel like that’s going to apply Saturday, though.

Wideout George Pickens is hurt and won’t play. That takes away any deep threat and allows the opposition defense to constrict the Steelers’ already-impotent running attack.

Not only do the Steelers have a bad group of wideouts, but Baltimore’s secondary also has recovered from a horrible first 10 games to play much better. Kyle Hamilton, a first-team All-Pro last season, has moved from the slot to safety, giving the Ravens stability and communication in the back.

Where have the Steelers improved significantly during the season? I’ll hang up and listen.

We shouldn’t be worried. Mike Tomlin is a football genius, a star on HBO and a good bet to win NFL Coach of the Year.

Wait, check that: Tomlin is actually +1200 to win Coach of the Year after that loss at Philadelphia. Minnesota’s Kevin O’Connell is favored at +110 with three other names below him and above Tomlin.

But what does Las Vegas know? Tomlin should have no problem formulating a way to win at Baltimore. Because that’s what great coaches do.

Here’s one approach: go out and punch the Ravens in the mouth. Do unto Baltimore what the Eagles did unto the Steelers.

But maybe the Steelers can’t. Or don’t want to.

Maybe the Steelers really are soft.

How often do they knock the foe’s quarterback out of the game?

The defense lacks big hitters. The offensive line lacks maulers.

Some Steelers move the toughness needle. Just not enough. The Steelers are a finesse-y team.

If much of this seems harsh, it’s because the season seems headed toward a predictable finish: The Steelers lose to Baltimore and Kansas City, blow the AFC North title, go on the road and lose in the first round of the playoffs. (Disclaimer: At Houston in the wild-card round would be winnable. 50/50, anyway.)

But Tomlin’s zillionth straight nonlosing season already has been clinched, so let the pigeons loose.

Meantime, I need a few questions answered:

• Philly QB Jalen Hurts completed 17 passes against single-high coverage this past Sunday. Because safety Minkah Fitzpatrick constitutes that single-high coverage and hasn’t had an interception in 26 games, how exactly does Fitzpatrick merit his $21.3 million cap hit? Troy Polamalu wasn’t always spectacular. But he was never invisible.

• If the offensive line is good, why is the running game averaging 2.9 yards per carry, the NFL’s second-lowest mark?

• Tight end Pat Freiermuth signed a $48.4 million contract extension just before the season. He was projected as picking up the receiving slack in the absence of departed wideout Diontae Johnson. Freiermuth has 47 catches for 492 yards and six touchdowns. Is that enough? (No.) Is Freiermuth being underutilized or just not very good? Because he’s getting money commensurate with a top tight end.

• Why did they bother trading for wide receiver Mike Williams? If he isn’t better than Van Jefferson, the Steelers should have let him stay in New York.

• Why is offensive coordinator Arthur Smith so desperate to find a role for Cordarrelle Patterson, his tag-along from Atlanta?

Suckas gots to know.

This game versus Baltimore is must-win for the Steelers.

They’ll still be 10-5 if they lose, with a playoff spot already locked up. But home games help in the playoffs. Weaker foes help in the playoffs. And it’s difficult to suddenly regenerate momentum and confidence if you play good teams in a series of high-leverage games and put together a losing streak.

Prediction: The Steelers will either win or lose both of the next two games.

By the way, HBO’s “Hard Knocks” barely noticed that the Steelers got routed by Philadelphia. That took skillful editing and eliminated the “reality” portion of the program.