CINCINNATI (93.7 The Fan) – Numerous times it looked bleak at best, yet the Steelers were able to find a way to beat the Bengals 23-20 in overtime. Why was it they were able to find a way to win?
"The spirit," Mike Tomlin said of his team. "We put them in adverse circumstances—in team development so that is revealed. I don't think any of us are surprised by it because we've seen enough of it in team development."
Tomlin said he knew his team would fight and he found comfort in that.
"We came in here, in a hostile environment and did not blink, particularly the number of new guys—whether they were rookies or new to us," Tomlin said. "The guys that have been here before, there is a certain expectation. They know what the standard of expectation is, but I can't say enough about the new guys and how they came alongside us and fought as if they've been here. And that is just so critical in environments like this."
Tomlin gave all of the new guys game balls to signify the accomplishment.
"That's what we hang our hat on, our training," said Steelers defensive back Arthur Maulet. "Like Coach T said, 'don't act funny when it gets tough'. We just make plays."
"I think it brings out the resiliency of our team and the conditioning of our team," said linebacker Alex Highsmith. "I think the coaches did a great job getting us in shape over the last few weeks of camp getting us ready for these moments."
"It was crazy, you think you are going to win the game," said Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth. "You think you are going to lose the game. I think that happened three or four times. You have to stay consistent."
"I think we did a good job of showing that toughness spirit, and we're excited to take the win back on the plane with us," said Steelers corner Ahkello Witherspoon.
"I'm proud of the way that we played," said safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. "Everybody came together. Everybody did their job. Everybody fought. Even when they tied it up we still fought and played hard. This is definitely what Steelers football is and this is what we should expect in the future."
What many players referenced after the game was how they kept battling and never pointing the fingers when the offense didn't take advantage of opportunities. The Steelers were just 4 of 15 on third down, gained only 267 yards, lost time of possession by over 17 minutes, yet made a couple of plays in the final drive to get Chris Boswell in range to make a 53-yard field goal.
"Exciting that we can take the circumstances that we had in the last possession and make something out of it," said Steelers receiver Chase Claypool. "We owed it to the defense."
Defensive back Cam Sutton said it's just the first of 17, so a long road ahead. But on that first curvy, hilly, pothole-filled road, they survived.
"How would I describe that, s*&!, I don't think I have the words for that," said Steelers linebacker Devin Bush. "It was just pure competition, that's what that was."
