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Mike Tomlin Downplays Chances of Steelers Resting Starters vs. Bengals
The Steelers may have nothing to play for come Saturday night, but head coach Mike Tomlin is focused on getting back in the win column.
PITTSBURGH — If the Baltimore Ravens defeat the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, they’ll win the AFC North. That would then give the Pittsburgh Steelers the decision of whether to play or rest their starters against the Cincinnati Bengals with a spot in the playoffs already locked up.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin isn’t even considering that at the beginning stages of the week, though.
“I haven’t pondered that at all, to be quite honest with you,” Tomlin said. “That may be a thought for later in the week, but as I mentioned, I think it’s significant how we go into this tournament. So I doubt that I’ll be in that mentality.”
Tomlin seems to be solely focused on getting back in the win column. The Steelers have lost three straight games, and while those three losses have come against opponents with a combined record of 39-9, Tomlin wants to enter the postseason on a good note.
Sweeping the Bengals would give the Steelers just that. The two teams met in Week 13 and Pittsburgh was able to escape Cincinnati with a 44-38 win, but the Bengals are hoping to get more than just revenge. They must win to keep their playoff hopes alive and the Steelers would love to be the ones who put that to an end.
That doesn’t mean it won’t come at a risk, however. If the Steelers do play their starters, they’ll risk getting injured, which would be awful timing since they seem to be finally getting healthy.
Tomlin and the Steelers have never lived in their fears, though, and that isn’t about to change.
“I feel really good about what I felt from them today. We were very transparent about what needs to be done and our course of action in an effort to create it,” Tomlin said. “Some bright eyes. Some rested faces. Felt real good about what we were able to get done in the classroom-like setting this morning.”
Entering the postseason healthy is important, but the Steelers know they need to get right if they hope to end their seven-year playoff win drought.
There’s only one way to do that with one game left to be played in the regular season.
“Win,” Tomlin said.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
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