Tomlin says Steelers still confident

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Mike Tomlin remains as sure as ever the Pittsburgh Steelers are good enough to play well into January and beyond.

Of course, getting that far at the moment is kind of a problem. Pittsburgh saw its grasp on a playoff berth vanish in a loss to Baltimore on Sunday. Now the Steelers need to win in Cleveland this weekend and hope the Buffalo Bills knock off the New York Jets to get back to the postseason.

It’s less than ideal situation for a team that looks as dangerous as any in the league, at least when it’s not giving away games against lesser opponents.

“We’re not a group that lacks confidence,” Tomlin said Tuesday. “We’re a group that believes what we’re capable of. We’ve got to deliver the goods.”

Preferably in a rush.

While Tomlin and first-year defensive coordinator Keith Butler have delivered on a vow to get to the quarterback more this season — Pittsburgh’s 41 sacks are tied for fourth in the league — the Steelers have just three in the last two weeks while facing Brock Osweiler and Ryan Mallett. Tomlin can live without the sacks so long as opposing quarterbacks are forced to make decisions under duress. That isn’t happening as frequently as it was earlier in the season, either.

There are times when Pittsburgh’s offense can help make up the difference, as it did while rallying past Osweiler and the Broncos on Dec. 20. When the offense stumbles as it did in a bewildering performance against Baltimore, the Steelers can let ordinary quarterbacks look considerably better than their pedigree.

“I didn’t think we created enough pressure,” Tomlin said. “I think that pressure creates an environment that produces splash for us, whether it’s negative plays for the offense or turnovers. There wasn’t enough negativity for them.”

Given a choice, Tomlin would prefer to parse out the blitzes and let the front four do most of the work. That didn’t happen versus the Ravens, giving Mallett all the time he needed to extend drives and keep Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown on the sideline.