PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pretty is defined as an attractive thing, typically pleasing. The Steelers 8-0 starts has been pleasing, but often not attractive.
In each of the last three road wins, the Steelers have had at least a bad half of football. The last two games, bad first halves.
“They were beating us to the punch, they were on it and we were not,” head coach Mike Tomlin said after beating Dallas 24-19 Sunday. “Thankfully, like we were talking about last week, we got a group that sticks together. A group that’s mentally tough and is able to persevere. I’m thankful for that.”
“Obviously we can’t keep having these conversations every week because one of these weeks we will be doing it with an ‘L’ if we are not careful.”
There were plenty of issues against the Cowboys, missing two extra points, 169 return yards, allowing over 50% on third down most of the game, rushing for just 46 yards.
“We are just getting hit in the teeth, we have to combat that,” Tomlin said.
Yet this team, once again, came out with a win.
“I think it shows mental toughness,” said defensive captain Cam Heyward. “The last three games have been on the road against quality opponents. It takes different guys to step up each game.”
“Every time we face adversity, we fight,” said tight end Eric Ebron. “I don’t give up. I try to pump so much energy into this team and I feel like it works. I feel like it all comes together at the end. I wouldn’t bet against us. At the end of the day I just wouldn’t bet against us.”
“We have a passion for the game,” said safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. “Preparation for the game. We go through situations like this in practice. We go through situations like this in film. We prepare for these moments. These moments come down to execution, go out there and execute.”
“We know that we are able to come back,” said JuJu Smith-Schuster. “We also need to show we can start fast, and finish strong.”
“Proud of the way the guys fought, we didn’t do what we wanted to today,” said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. “We found a way to win. We have to stop playing so ugly on offense.”
“It’s the NFL. There are no easy games. We are the Pittsburgh Steelers, we know everyone is coming for us.”
That is a statement that Tomlin shares.
“We get everybody’s best punch regardless of record,” Tomlin said. “I think people respect our brand and they respect our franchise and its history. That’s been my experience over 14 years here, regardless of our record, people know when they are playing the Pittsburgh Steelers. We are going to get people’s best shot.”
“I joke I feel like I’m too old for this stuff,” Roethlisberger said. “The emotional rollercoasters that are these games the last couple of weeks. We keep winning and keep having fun with these guys. That’s all that matters. I want to play and win for them.”
This team is halfway to a perfect season, but what does that get the Steelers? No awards, just talk and another opponent who will look to be the first to mark the Steelers loss column. Next up are the Cincinnati Bengals coming off a bye week.
“Once I go to work tomorrow, it will be less significant,” Tomlin said of the 8-0 start. “We will be singularly focused on getting ready for our next AFC North opponent. That’s life. I’m appreciative of it, but we are not going to dwell on it. We got big-time business coming up with AFC North ball.”
“All it guarantees is that we can go 8-8,” Heyward said. “The job is not done, but I’m glad we are in a position where everyone is looking at us. You don’t have to wait for others to do their jobs, they have to chase you.”