Steelers coach Mike Tomlin focused on Ravens, not potential playoff scenarios
Entering Week 17 of the NFL season, the Pittsburgh Steelers remain mathematically alive for a wild-card berth in the AFC playoffs, a concept that three weeks ago seemed about as unlikely as snow in July.
Back-to-back wins have moved the Steelers within one game of .500, leaving them with a 2% chance of reaching the postseason, according to fivethirtyeight.com.
The Steelers need to win their final two games and then get some help in the final two weeks if they are going to return to the postseason for the third year in a row.
Coach Mike Tomlin, as is his custom, isn’t looking that far ahead.
“We’re going to focus on things within our control,” Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. “That is our preparation and then what we do inside the stadium on Sunday night.”
The Steelers (7-8) face the Baltimore Ravens (10-5) at M&T Bank Stadium in a game the NFL flexed into prime time so it could showcase a game with potential postseason ramifications. The Ravens already have clinched a playoff berth but are trying to catch Cincinnati (11-4) in the AFC North.
The Steelers, though, could be eliminated before they take the field. They need Miami to lose its game at New England in a 1 p.m. matchup. A win by the New York Jets at Seattle in a game that will kick off at 4 p.m. also would cripple the Steelers’ playoff chances.
“We acknowledge all of those scenarios and things that exist,” Tomlin said. “All of those scenarios and things have existed since Sept 11, since we started the season. Every time we step on the field, there is high urgency.
“You get 17 opportunities to state your case. We have lived in that urgency. We understand it, so we are not going to waste time talking about it. We didn’t waste time talking about it in September. We’re going to stay focused on preparing and ultimately playing this game.”
The Steelers will face the Ravens for the second time in four weeks. The Ravens took advantage of three interceptions by backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky to beat the Steelers, 16-14, on Dec. 11. It is the Steelers’ only loss in the past five games.
“I’ve been in this league long enough to know you could roll two teams out on back-to-back days, and the game could unfold differently,” Tomlin said. “I don’t think either party is hanging their hat on how that one transpired.”
It also will mark the third time in the past four seasons the Steelers and Ravens have played in late December or early January with a playoff berth at stake. The Steelers got some help last year while beating the Ravens in the season finale at M&T Bank Stadium to earn the No. 7 seed. Two years earlier, they were eliminated by the Ravens in the finale. That game also was played in Baltimore.
“We’re all familiar with being in significant games,” Tomlin said. “The new Steeler, the young Steeler, we’ll educate them as they will the new or young Raven. I think this is the 10th time (coach John Harbaugh) and I have played Sunday night ball together. He’s an awesome dance partner. They’re an awesome dance partner. It’s just good to be in significant games.
“When I got the call the other night that the game was flexed, I didn’t hate that. I loved that. If your games are not getting flexed this time of the year, you’re not doing it right, you’re not in significant ones.”
Here’s a look at what Tomlin had to say at his press conference: (right-click to unmute video)
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Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
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