Pittsburg, PA
Mike Tomlin Gets Honest With Steelers Fans After Boiling Point
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin hasn’t had much time to think about what just happened. For the first time in his 18 seasons as the leader of the Steelers, the home crowd turned on him in overwhelming fashion. “Fire Tomlin,” chants rained down from the Acrisure Stadium crowd,
Following the game and another Steelers loss, Tomlin echoed the fan base’s frustrations and demanded he and his players be better. In his first chance to address the media in as they move on to their Week 14 preparations, Tomlin was asked how he reacts to the calls for him to be fired. Speaking on hearing such while acknowledging an understanding that he has to provide a winning product as the head coach.
“In general, I agree with them,” he said. “From this perspective: football is our game. We in the sport of entertainment business. And so, if you root for the Steelers, entertaining them is winning. So, when you’re not winning, you’re not entertaining. And if you’ve been in this business, you understand that. And so, I respect it. I share frustrations. I understand what makes this thing go, and winning is what makes this thing go.”
Don’t Expect Wide-Scale Coaching Changes
As Tomlin looks to improve the team with five games remaining, he made it clear that he isn’t going to make any sweeping changes to his coaching staff or day-to-day responsibilities for the remainder of the season. Asked about his plans to change play-calling duties or shuffling any other roles, Tomlin shut down that notion saying there aren’t moves to anticipate in that regard.
“Not anything that merits discussion in this setting,” he answered. “No.”
That answer is sure to disappoint many, as the calls for new coordinators on both sides of the ball have been louder than the cries for Tomlin’s job. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has produced mediocre game plans while defensive coordinator Teryl Austin just watched his group allow a franchise record for rush yards in a single game. Both are likely looking for new jobs in the offseason, but many hoped they’d be served their papers earlier.
Trying to Finish Strong
The Steelers are attempting to finish the season strong despite currently being stuck in a rut. The road begins with an AFC North matchup against their bitter rivals, the Baltimore Ravens. With the calls for Tomlin’s job reaching a crescendo, the head coach is trying to focus his gameplan on the Ravens and getting a crucial win.
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Pittsburg, PA
Can Steelers Actually Pull It Off? Possibly
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers did it. They are AFC North champions for the first time since 2020 after a thrilling victory in Week 18.
Now, the Steelers are host the Houston Texans to finish off Wild Card Weekend. It’s another challenging matchup and another game that the Steelers will likely be considered the underdogs.
But, against the ever-growing odds, it’s possible that the Steelers could actually do this. They might just have what it takes to win the Super Bowl.
Timely Defensive Performance
There is nothing more dangerous in the postseason than a surging defense. Countless Super Bowl-winning teams are fueled by a lock-down defensive group.
The Steelers aren’t there, quite yet, but there have been glimpses of a Steel Curtain lurking.
One way they’ve displayed that is with their run defense. Since Week 14, the Steelers have vastly improved their ability to stop the run. They’ve held their opponents to under 100 yards rushing in three of the last five games.
The secondary remains a problem, evidenced once again by the multiple explosive plays they surrendered in Week 18.
But they can make up for that with their ability to create turnovers. The Steelers finished with the fourth-best turnover differential in the NFL. They finished the regular season with 15 interceptions and 12 fumbles, the second-most forced this year.
The DK of It All
The Steelers offense was in a brutal place after wide receiver DK Metcalf was suspended for the final two games of the regular season. They failed to record a touchdown in their Week 17 loss, and running back Kenneth Gainwell was the team’s leading receiver in Week 18.
In their first postseason game, Metcalf is back. His suspension ends, and the Steelers’ best offensive player returns. Despite missing the final two contests, he finished his first season in Pittsburgh with 59 receptions on 99 targets, 850 yards and six touchdowns.
With Metcalf back, the offense suddenly has hope again. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers found a way to drag the passing game forward in Week 18. He threw for 294 yards, including a game-winning touchdown throw to Calvin Austin III.
But no one is as dynamic as Metcalf. His physicality and speed can be unguardable at times, and with the Steelers set to face the league’s stingiest defenses, Metcalf’s production remains paramount.
It might be unlikely, but it’s suddenly possible. The Steelers have struggled at various points of the season, but that all fades away when the postseason begins. In its place comes hope and a belief that this team has what it takes to go on a long playoff run.
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Pittsburg, PA
Steeler, voted the cutest TSA dog in America, stars in downloadable calendar
Pittsburg, PA
Corey O’Connor will begin his term as mayor with a focus on growth and families
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