Cam Sutton isn't interested in a players-only meeting, a rally cry, or any superstitious ritual in order to get the Steelers back on track.
The Steelers' cornerback just wants results.
During Monday's open locker-room session to media members at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side, Sutton was one of the few to speak with reporters following the dreadful 38-3 loss to the Bills the previous day in Orchard Park, N.Y.
So, when the scrum huddled around Sutton's locker stall, the cornerback didn't mince words about having to deal with a 1-4 start and having to turn around to face Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
"It's just another preparation week," Sutton said. "We all know Tom Brady. The whole morale of everything that he's done -- I'm not taking away from all of that -- not trying to necessarily be (crappy) to you guys, but it's not about what we say. It's not about you guys asking me a lot of questions and what I think we should do. It's about us playing (freaking) football -- excuse my language -- but that's just what it comes down to."
The Steelers weren't playing the same football game as Buffalo on Sunday. The Bills and all-world quarterback Josh Allen piled on 400 yards of total offense, 348 through the air, and 31 points by halftime, while the Steelers mustered just 364 yards of total offense and three gimme points in four quarters of play. In total, Buffalo's offense racked up 552 yards -- 432 passing.
The Steelers' defense surrendered five plays of 30 or more yards, including the 98-yard bomb from Allen to Gabe Davis on the third play from scrimmage, as Davis simply sprinted by Tre Norwood and had nothing but daylight in front of him to run and make the grab. Seven of the Bills' ten longest plays of the game occurred in the first half, including four of more than 30 yards.
The Steelers have the third-worst total defense and pass defense in the NFL, and their run defense is 10th-worst in the league. It's obvious that the injury and subsequent absence of T.J. Watt has something to do with the glaring failures put forward, but there is now a pattern developing for the unit into which the front office put 47.6% of its salary cap investment -- $102.4 million.
"Look at yourself in the mirror every day, how you approach these every day, come in, work, and get (it) done," Sutton said.
Unfortunately for Sutton, he was unable to finish the game with a hamstring injury. He maintains he's "alright," but it remains to be seen if he can be on the field soon to help the team try and turn this ship around.
Soul searching can only take the Steelers so far, and answers are needed now with a gauntlet of a schedule ahead. The Steelers' don't face a losing team for another three weeks, with their next three opponents (Tampa Bay, Miami, and Philadelphia) currently combining for an 11-4 record, with Philadelphia remaining as the NFL's only unbeaten team at 5-0.
But, even after that, the schedule doesn't lighten up much, with games against New Orleans (2-3) and reigning AFC champion Cincinnati (2-3) to follow.
The Steelers were in a similar position in 2019, when they recovered from starts of 0-3 and 1-5 and finished 8-8 and a game out of a wild card spot in the playoffs. But, with a rookie quarterback getting his feet wet, a receiving corps that is struggling to simply catch the football, and a defense with as much tumult as one could have, a repeat of that seems unlikely from the outside.
"I mean, you can," Sutton said, "but (the 2019 experience) isn't going to do nothing for us right now. We just got to do some searching within ourselves and get ready for this week. Get ready for the week to come."
Frustrations when you're 1-4 are natural for any team to experience, and judging by Sutton's words -- replaced by "(crappy)," "(freaking)," and "(it)" in this story -- they are present within the locker room.
But...
"I mean, you use it," Sutton said. "Obviously everyone wants to win. It's easier said than done. Obviously means a lot to myself, means a lot to the guys, but it's not about what we're saying, it's not about schematic X's and O's. It's about us going out there and getting things done. ... It's not about any of the extra stuff."