With a home game standing between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the postseason, coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that it’s important for his team to head into the playoffs with some momentum.
The 10-6 Steelers, who have an outside chance of winning the AFC North, will try to snap a three-game losing streak Saturday night when they face the 8-8 Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium. The Bengals have won four in a row and can remain in the hunt for the conference’s final wild-card berth with a victory.
“They are a motivated group trying to play their way into this tournament, but we’re a motivated group, to be quite honest with you,” Tomlin said.
The Steelers are coming off double-digit losses at Philadelphia and Baltimore and at home to Kansas City on Christmas, the defeats dropping them out of first place in the division heading into the season finale.
“We have to get the stench of the last few performances off of us,” Tomlin said. “There’s not better way to do that than with a home divisional win over a formidable group heading into the tournament.”
The Ravens, armed with an 11-5 record, can clinch the division title with a victory against the 3-13 Cleveland Browns in the only other NFL game being played Saturday. The Steelers will know the result of that game before they take the field against the Bengals.
Tomlin was asked that, if the Ravens have clinched the division, would he consider resting some of his starters against Cincinnati.
“I haven’t pondered that at all,” he said. “That might be a thought for later in the week. It’s significant how we go into this tournament. I doubt that I’ll be in that mentality.”
The Steelers’ defense allowed an average of 30 points and more than 400 yards in the trio of losses to some of the NFL’s top teams. Tomlin expects his defense to be healthy heading into the finale with the anticipated return of cornerback Joey Porter Jr. from a knee injury.
In the prior losses, the Steelers played at times without corners Porter and Donte Jackson and safety DeShon Elliott.
“Getting a healthy outfit was we get toward the end of the season and as we lean in on the single-elimination tournament is big business for us,” Tomlin said.
Tomlin also said wide receiver/special teams gunner Ben Skowronek would return from a hip injury that he sustained against Baltimore.
“It looks like we’re moving in the right direction, which is a good thing,” Tomlin said.
Running back Jaylen Warren and cornerback Cory Trice could miss practice time early in the week, but Tomlin expects them to be available to play Saturday.
After the Steelers played three games in 11 days, Tomlin gave his players a three-day break over the weekend. Players returned for meetings Monday and will resume practicing Tuesday.
“To come off a long weekend like we had, that’s been a benefit to us,” Tomlin said. “Guys that needed rest got it. Guys that needed rehabilitation have gotten that. We’re excited about starting our physical work tomorrow.”