PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin started his Week 18 news conference with a simple phrase.
“Welcome to AFC North Championship Week.”
Here are some of the stories outside of Aaron Rodgers and TJ Watt from the Tomlin news conference.
No foolin’
“We played these guys most recently. I'm sure we'll have a wrinkle or two. I'm sure they'll have wrinkle of two. But at the end of the day, wrinkles won't determine the outcome of game. Quality playmaking, particularly in timely moments will. And so, it's important that we formulate a good plan, that we divide the labor up appropriately and we put our guys in position to do so, make those plays and prevent those plays on the other side.”
That’s so Raven
“It is an honor, man, to be in these games, to be in these hotly contested matchups. It seems like Baltimore is always a dance partner. I certainly am respectful and appreciative of that relationship and some of the historic things we've been able to do when these two teams have come together. This appears to be one of those weekends. It's humbling and an honor to be a component of it, but our job is to win.”
Oh Nick
Linebacker Nick Herbig said he lost sleep thinking about a dropped interception during the second quarter Sunday in Cleveland. Tomlin pointed out Tuesday it was a huge missed opportunity.
“You know when a game is going like that, usually you look for a splash player too, maybe from defense or special teams,” Tomlin said. “To kickstart you and give you a leg up. And although our defense and special teams were solid, we missed out on those game-changing or momentum-changing plays. I thought we had one two minutes or so before the halftime. Herbig had his hands on the ball in the left flat and he certainly had an opportunity to run it back had he caught it. And I think those are the type of plays that really kind of break games like that open. And when you get them, you have an opportunity to move on. In. And find your rhythm and do what's required to win. And when they don't, it's obviously more tough sledding.”
No DK
Steelers targeted Marquez Valdes-Scantling a game-high nine times on Sunday for three receptions and Scotty Miller got the second most with seven targets for only three receptions. What did Tomlin learn from Sunday in Cleveland?
“If they give us one on one playmaking opportunities, we got to make those plays,” Tomlin said. “And we got put guys in position to do so. We got very capable men.”
“Oftentimes I say there's a fine line between being a Pro Bowler and a backup with the top of the food chain in terms of the football world. And so it's a reasonable expectation from my perspective, particularly with an additional week to prepare, that we put together a thoughtful plan and that we position our guys to take advantage of opportunities. And, if and when they do present themselves, that we make the plays.”
Roman Times
With the suspension of DK Metcalf starting last week, Tomlin said this of getting 2024 third-round pick Roman Wilson back on the field.
“One man's misfortune is another man's opportunity. A guy like Roman Wilson, for example, who has been working extremely hard and growing throughout the course of this thing, but had his role reduced in recent weeks. I'm excited what that opportunity might mean for him to display growth in the midst of the time where he hadn't been participating to show his professionalism and readiness and how he's been sharpening his sword for battle in the ranks while he hadn't been playing, for example.”
Wilson played nine snaps on offense and didn’t have a catch in Cleveland.
Tomlin danced around his answer that they weren’t winning third downs. That they didn’t control the game through the running game and they could have converted more possession downs. He said that impacted the level of participation for Wilson and his 'ability to impact the game in a positive way’.
Home field
One of the more interesting storylines outside of the play on the field, is the reaction of the crowd Sunday night. Tomlin pointed out loud home fans make a difference.
“Certainly there is, you know, the ability to change plays at the line of scrimmage, to communicate, to get in appropriate schemes and so forth, offensively gets challenged. It's the same urgency that we had when we went into Baltimore several weeks ago. It creates tangible challenges for your offense and that's why it's so important that you start fast when you're in those adverse circumstances. That's why our ability to go down the field and score on the first possession. For example, in Baltimore a couple of weeks back, I thought it was so significant in terms of trying to neutralize some of that. Our job this week is different, but I'm certainly glad that this game is being played in Acrisure.
A couple of games ago, fans were booing him and the home team. Is there a message to them for this final game?
“No message at all. That's our job to make sure that we have the appropriate engagement. And so, I'm committed to that component of it.”