The Steelers are back atop the AFC North, and the narrative is back in place.
It ranges somewhere between Kevin Bacon screaming “All is well!” in “Animal House” and Aaron Rodgers saying, “Means maybe (the media) will shut the hell up for a week.” It doubtless involves every talking head on ESPN saying sarcastically, “Oh, you want to fire that guy!”
Mike Tomlin is once again the NFL’s best coach. Long live the king. He had his team prepared and ready for the biggest game of the season, and they’re in first place.
The truth runs a bit deeper, of course.
It took three cataclysmic refereeing decisions all going against Baltimore on Sunday to validate Tomlin’s coaching acumen:
• Rodgers having his knees down at the instant of possession.
• Isaiah Likely not maintaining the instant of possession despite being in the end zone.
• The officials protecting Steelers long snapper Christian Kuntz. Because long snappers sell tickets.
Did the referees get those decisions correct? Probably. But if you’re a Ravens fan, you feel like you got screwed. And what are the odds of NFL refs getting all three of those calls right?
The narrative goes beyond Tomlin’s, uh, brilliance.
It offers hope for the future.
The Steelers might peak at the right time. They’re not getting older, they’re getting better.
The AFC is wide open. Any team could win it. You’ve just got to make it.
Rodgers is a gutsy winner.
It’s just like 2005, when the Steelers got on a roll at season’s end.
Except it’s not at all like 2005, when the Steelers won their last eight (including four in the playoffs). The Steelers were a team on the rise then, with second-year quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in full bloom. These Steelers are old gods, almost dead.
The part about the AFC might be true, especially with Kansas City fading.
But there are certainly better bets than the Steelers in the AFC.
The Steelers’ pending matchup in the wild-card round is at home vs. Buffalo. The Bills beat the Steelers, 26-7, at Acrisure Stadium just a week ago. Who would you wager on in the rematch?
The part about Rodgers might be true. But he should shut up anyway.
First off, it wasn’t the media that was chanting “FIRE TOMLIN!” during that home loss to Buffalo. It was the fans.
Secondly, Rodgers has played only two or three good games since joining the Steelers. The Steelers are 7-6. His prior greatness wasn’t achieved here and means nothing here. He’s a 42-year-old man who looks like a POW and might feel better if he’d taken that vaccine. So shut up yourself until you win a playoff game, grandpa.
That said, Rodgers was the saving grace of Sunday’s win. He played with timing and heart.
DK Metcalf had a breakout game (seven receptions, 148 yards) and caught some balls in stride.
The deep ball got dusted off a bit.
The defense had good pressure on Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson: two sacks, five QB hits and good containment. (Jackson just looks off.)
The injury fill-ins did OK, especially inside linebacker Cole Holcomb with nine tackles.
The Steelers got lucky but certainly gave themselves a chance to get lucky.
The Steelers might not be very good. But every other team in the AFC North looks worse.
It’s insane that anybody thinks Tomlin is above criticism after eight seasons without a playoff win.
It’s also insane that anybody thinks Tomlin might ever get fired or forced out. He will coach the Steelers are long as he chooses.
What’s important is that the narrative is back: Big win, first place, no losing seasons, blah, blah, blah. Long live the king.