Mark Madden: With no reason for optimism, Steelers need to start all over — beginning with Mike Tomlin

The Steelers lost their sixth straight playoff game. For the fifth consecutive time, it was a blowout.

The Steelers should blow it up and start over.

The coach has been exposed for the fraud he’s always been.

This version of the team is aging, full of holes and clearly a level below legit. The Steelers’ approach to football is outdated.

But it’s already leaking that the Steelers will retain Mike Tomlin.

It wouldn’t be shocking if the Steelers ran it back in almost identical fashion. Re-sign Russell Wilson, extend George Pickens and T.J. Watt, etc.

That’s because mediocrity is what the Steelers are happy with: A non-losing season, the playoffs as often as not, keep the same coach forever.

It’s a soft, weak organization from the owner down to the ball boys. That was never more evident than in Saturday’s wild-card round loss at Baltimore.

The Steelers got their preferred method shoved into various orifices. Literally, in one case, as Baltimore running back Derrick Henry leveled Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick with an early stiff arm to the mouth.

The Steelers want to run the ball. But the Ravens had 299 rushing yards to the Steelers’ 29.

The Steelers want to possess the ball. But the Ravens had it for almost 40 minutes.

The Steelers want to play physically. But they got badly bullied on both sides of the ball.

The Steelers want to dominate on defense. But the Ravens drove 95 yards for a touchdown on their first possession and made it look easy.

The Steelers are supposed to be prepared and motivated, but they were anything but. They looked flat and disengaged, the new Steelers playoff tradition. It’s like the players are tired of the coach. The message seems lost.

Everything Tomlin wants the Steelers to be, they are not.

But Tomlin will still return. Did you know he’s never had a losing season?

There is no logical reason to bring back Tomlin.

The Steelers have won two championships in 45 years. So their calling card now is never firing the coach.

But you couldn’t fail more than Tomlin did over the Steelers’ last five games. Not just the losing but the path navigated. Ugly.

Not to mention their playoff implosions over the last eight years. In five postseason losses during that span, the Steelers have allowed an average of 38.3 points and 418.2 yards. The Steelers have been outscored by a cumulative 73-0 in the first quarter of their last six playoff games.

It’s made the Steelers boring.

Circus performers. Good show, bad show, makes no difference, do it again.

Good streak, bad streak. Finish over .500. Maybe make the playoffs. If you do, you get killed. Explain via empty platitudes. Do it again. Nothing changes.

How could you possibly expect better next year?

Except that one of these years it’s going to get worse. Hopefully a lot worse. Because 4-13 is what the Steelers need on so many levels.

It’s often said that Tomlin would get a new job within five minutes if the Steelers let him go. You sure about that? This latest playoff debacle might resonate.

If Tomlin got any of the NFL coaching jobs currently available, he’d fail miserably. He’s not cut out for inheriting a bad situation. Tomlin won in Pittsburgh with somebody else’s players, leaders and culture.

Explain why Tomlin is a good coach. Be specific.

I’ll hang up and listen.