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Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin watches warmups before a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Acrisure Stadium on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in the North Shore.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin focusing on 'opportunity' ahead despite 3-game skid, locker-room bickering

Benjamin B. Braun/Post-Gazette

Steelers' Mike Tomlin focusing on 'opportunity' ahead despite 3-game skid, locker-room bickering

Coach also exonerated mercurial WR George Pickens of blame for Russell Wilson's interception vs. Chiefs

Mike Tomlin tried to put on a smiley face and look at the positives of the Steelers’ recent plight that has seen them lose three consecutive games, all but eliminate any chance of winning the division and cause friction among his defensive players.

He even exonerated wide receiver George Pickens of any blame for the end-zone interception in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day.

“It’s good to be in the position we’re in,” Tomlin said. “Certainly we could be in a better position. But, by the same token, we could also be in a worse position.”

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The Steelers (10-6) appear destined to play a wild card game on the road unless the Baltimore Ravens (11-5) somehow lose at home to the Cleveland Browns at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and the Steelers manage to beat the Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) and win the AFC North at Acrisure Stadium.

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If that happens, the Steelers would be the No. 3 seed in the AFC and play host to the Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) in the wild card round.

But, if both the Ravens and Steelers win on Saturday, the Steelers would be the fifth seed and play a wild card game in Houston against the AFC South champion Texans (9-7).

If the Steelers lose and the Chargers beat the Las Vegas Raiders in the regular season finale, the Steelers would drop to the sixth seed and play a wild card game in Baltimore against the Ravens.

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“We are where we are,” Tomlin said Monday at his weekly news conference. “We are excited about the opportunity that is this week and beyond.”

Because the Steelers will know before the start of the Bengals game if they have a chance to win the division, Tomlin was asked if he would consider pulling back on some of his regulars if the Ravens beat the Browns. While Tomlin said, “That might be a thought for later in the week,” that is not his style.

It’s just as important for the Steelers to beat the Bengals to go into the postseason on some form of a positive note — and to avoid going back to Baltimore to play the Ravens, who have won their past three games by average score of 33-11.

“It’s significant how we go into this tournament, so I doubt that I’ll be in that mentality,” Tomlin said.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson (41) and Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) celebrate stopping the Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford (34) at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in the Northshore. The Pittsburgh Steelers won 27-14.
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Tomlin said after the Christmas Day loss to the Chiefs he will make whatever changes are necessary to stop the three-game slide. It won’t get any easier against the Bengals, who have won four in a row since a Dec. 1 loss to the Steelers and are averaging 32.3 points in their past five games.

Tomlin’s defense is allowing an average of 28.4 points in its past five games and looked confused and out of place against Patrick Mahomes, who passed for 309 yards and three touchdowns. Several players complained publicly about teammates not knowing their assignments and making mistakes that should not happen this late in the season.

Tomlin said he didn’t do much about the bickering when the team met on the day after Christmas.

“They bicker because they care and we weren’t playing well,” Tomlin said. “Oftentimes, the solution is born out of conflict and confrontation, particularly when you’re in the business that we’re in.

“We’re not going to let an issue like that be a big issue. It’s really not. It’s guys expressing truth and working to seek solutions. And sometimes emotions are involved in that.”

Meantime, Tomlin said Pickens’ route running “had zero to do” with Russell Wilson’s pass for tight end Pat Freiermuth being intercepted by Chiefs safety Justin Reid in the end zone. Pickens appeared to break off his route, allowing Reid to leave him and be in position to make the interception. The score was 13-0 at the time.

“Not at all,” Tomlin said. “George was fine last Wednesday.”

First Published: December 30, 2024, 7:25 p.m.
Updated: December 30, 2024, 9:03 p.m.

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Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin watches warmups before a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Acrisure Stadium on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in the North Shore.  (Benjamin B. Braun/Post-Gazette)
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