No resting players with division title on line

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – With another game coming up four days later, would the Steelers consider resting players to give them the opportunity to be healthier against a Chiefs team that could be without quarterback Patrick Mahomes?

It's a theory, with the tie-breaker setups the Steelers could lose the Baltimore game and still win the division by beating Kansas City and Cincinnati at home. You could give the players an extra four days of rest to be ready to close the season instead of pushing them back when they would be less healthy at the Ravens.

Steelers-Baltimore is also always a physical game, in pushing an injury, it might aggravate it to where they will miss considerably more time. They are understandable talking points, so what does the man who makes those decisions think?

"This is a big game," Tomlin said Tuesday. "We have an opportunity to solidify the division this week. Rest assured, the healthy people are going to play in this game.

Tomlin didn't rule out any of the six players currently dealing with injury or that missed the game in Philadelphia. They included a pair of the biggest difference makers on this team, TJ Watt (ankle) and George Pickens (hamstring). Along with second-leading tackler, safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring), veteran defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi (groin), corner Donte Jackson (back) and quarterback Justin Fields (abdomen).

"It's a divisional game," Tomlin reiterated. "It's a road divisional game. It's Baltimore. I understand the nature of this rivalry and the amount of attention it brings. We have an opportunity to pursue a division championship this week. We are excited."

Tomlin said it's different at this time of year compared to earlier in the season. He in the first few games or before the season begins you will be more cautious with players because you don't want a small injury or ailment to become bigger when maybe a game or two off could improve the recovery.

"When you get to this portion of the season when the sand is running through the hour glass, that's not a component of decision-making," Tomlin said. "Generally, if they are healthy and available, they go."

Tomlin believes he sets the right message in Latrobe with their physicality to set the mindset of where they need to be right now even if they don't get the hitting in practice. He said you can't recoup that time now. NFL rules don't allow you to go full out in practice in late December. Not that you would necessarily want that even after a tough loss.

He said the Steelers are ready for a physical rivalry even though they didn't perform like they would have wanted to against the Eagles. Tomlin believes his team is built for these moments.

Saturday is for a first division title in five years and they are all-in to make that happen.

"Those that are capable of playing are going to play in this game," Tomlin said. "We are not going to look ahead to potentially what happens on the other side of it. We got definitive, tangible things to pursue this week, a divisional championship. I think that merits all hands on deck."