The Steelers' injury woes derailed what could have been a good season.
The Steelers finished 8-8 after a 6-3 start, so their final grades aren't going to be pretty after that final semester's work. Injuries undermined an already thin lineup, with players considered regulars or starters missing a sum total of 60 games this season. But the standard of play dropped precipitously in the final half of the season, with that 2-5 finish.
Steelers football 2012 was mostly lowlights, but there were a few high points, too. Here's a look at the good and the bad.
The Steelers will meet the Minnesota Vikings in London next fall. The rest of their time stateside won't be so easy.
On Thursday, the day after tight end Heath Miller and cornerback Ike Taylor were added to IR, it was announced that Steelers teammates named their Pro Bowl tight end as team MVP -- the same day Miller underwent knee surgery. Here is the Rapid Reports version of team MVPs.
After losing five of their previous six games, the Steelers produced a season-high four turnovers and turned two of them into touchdowns. That proved to be the difference in a 24-10 defeat of Cleveland that pulled the door closed on a season draped in mediocrity and disappointment.
It wasn't much consolation, but the Steelers did manage to get an ugly win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday to wrap up their first non-playoff season since 2009. The Browns aren't participating in the postseason either, and the housecleaning may begin in Cleveland on Monday.
Steelers inactives for Sunday's game against the Browns include WR David Gilreath and LB Marshall McFadden.
QBs Brandon Weeden and Colt McCoy are among Cleveland's inactives for its game against the Steelers.
Neither the Steelers nor the Browns have much at stake other than pride, but Pittsburgh will be looking to finish at .500 for the ninth season in a row, so that should be incentive enough.
The Steelers roster is likely to see significant changes in the offseason, so don't be surprised if WR Mike Wallace and LB James Harrison are playing for other teams next year.
There's plenty of blame to go around as the Steelers suffer their fifth loss in the past six games.
ThIn a classic reversal of fortune, the Bengals eliminate the Steelers from the playoffs, while guaranteeing themselves a second-straight postseason appearance for the first time in about 30 years.
Steelers inactives for Sunday's game against the Bengals include WR Plaxico Burress and CB Ike Taylor.
CB Dre Kirkpatrick is among Cincinnati's inactives for its game against the Steelers.