Slumping Steelers searching for answers after three straight losses

Mike Tomlin, to borrow a phrase, trusts the process. So does Ben Roethlisberger and everyone else on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Yet trusting the reeling AFC North leaders will get things turned around following a third straight loss — this one a 27-17 clunker in Cincinnati on Monday night in which the Steelers (11-3) never led against a team that hadn’t won since before Election Day — and actually doing it are two different matters entirely.

A week ago, Roethlisberger channeled his inner Aaron Rodgers and said in so many words that everyone needed to just relax. Tomlin pointed to having a normal practice schedule for the first time in a while would help the Steelers regain momentum.

Not so much. Not after three first-half turnovers. Not after the banged-up Bengals and thirdstring quarterback Ryan Finley mashed Pittsburgh’s depleted defensive front seven in the fourth quarter. Not after the worst firsthalf performance (statistically) of Roethlisberger’s Hall of Fameworthy career.

Now the division title that looked like a lock at the start of December feels considerably more tenuous. The Steelers finish the regular season with a visit from surging Indianapolis (10-4) on Sunday then head to Cleveland to face the Browns (10-4) in what could be a showdown for one of the top four seeds in the AFC.

While stressing whatever has transpired on the field over the past month isn’t good enough, Tomlin added Tuesday that “there won’t be sweeping changes to what we’re doing . ... We’ve got to have better performance.”