After Chris Boswell‘s slip cost them a chance to beat the Raiders on Sunday, the Steelers are considering a change at kicker. At his weekly news conference on Tuesday, head coach Mike Tomlin admitted that the team will “explore” alternatives. 
“We acknowledge that Chris has struggled. He has struggled to find consistent footing,” Tomlin said (via WTAE). “We are willing to explore options that give us the best chances of the ball going through the uprights this week. That being said, those options include Chris.”
Boswell’s botched attempt to tie the game can be blamed on the poor turf at Oakland Alameda County Coliseum, but he also missed a 39-yard kick in the first half and got lucky on an extra point try that went through after hitting the upright. All in all, he’s made just 10 of 16 field goal tries this year and has missed five extra points. It’s a far cry from his work last year – Boswell sank 35 of 38 field goal attempts in 2017 and made 37 of his 39 XPs.
It remains to be seen when or if the Steelers will audition other kickers. Their frustration with Boswell is understandable, but there aren’t a ton of quality kickers available at this stage of the season.
“At this time of the year, we are cognizant of what’s available, and we realize it’s prudent to include Chris in those options,” Tomlin said. “His performance merits us turning stones over and looking at options.”
The Steelers dropped to 7-5-1 and extended their losing streak to three games with Sunday’s heartbreaking loss. With three games to go, they’ll fight to stave off the Ravens for the AFC North title.
They also need to explore some alternatives to their defense. Especially, their 4th quarter defense.
Perhaps their coaching staff as well
It’s been a tough year for him. I think it’s all confidence. We saw what he’s done the past few seasons. Maybe the contract has him feeling like he needs to live up to it. Idk
I think it’s confidence too. It seems like when he goes up there he doesn’t even know if he’ll make it or not. He will probably fix it at some point, but a team that had championship aspirations can’t afford their kicker to have problems.
What a troll job by Tomlin lol. “He has struggled to find consistent footing”. That’s genius
Not much can be done at this point unless there’s another Boswell type, a guy who hasn’t had an opportunity, out there that we don’t know about. This off season major changes need made. A new DC needs to be brought in to update the defense; Butler basically runs the same Dick LeBeau defense, new kicker needs brought in, secondary needs to be readdressed again, etc.
Next exit on the free agent kicker bus, Pittsburgh!! Do you think it looks like the big Monstrosity that the Jawas drove in the desert in Star Wars…they take a few kickers out and you choose from then??
The steelers sign that wacky domed thing with all the different probes coming out of it…. Next kicker for the Steelers…. Wearing number 2… The Probinator!!!
Steelers aren’t making the playoffs, even with a new kicker. Gonna lose to NE, and NO then win week 17 to finish 8-7-1. You lose this late in the season to a team like the raiders you don’t deserve to make the playoffs.
The Patriots lost to the 3-11 Dolphins in December 2004 so does that mean their SB win that season shouldn’t count?
I read Tomlin’s comments about getting ready for the Patriots game. What a joke of a HC. Getting ready means: “we’re gonna play zone coverage again and let Brady pick us apart. It never worked before, but I feel lucky this time!”
and Gronkowski will have most of those yards because the Steelers can’t defend him
Hey Madman! How’s that running game that “ANYONE” can run behind??? Been a Tough Nov/Dec for the Ground game.
And what would you have paid Le’Veon?
Theres only 1 premium kicker in this league and that is justin tucker every other kicker is shaky at best
It’s a tough job. There’s going to be shaky moments. But never forget Tucker vs New Orleans.
Only miss in his career not many people can say that