by Bo Marchionte
Twitter @BoMarchionte

Usually when a team reaches 11-0 there is cause for celebration, especially when the victory is against your most despised rival.

That was not the case for Mike Tomlin after the Steelers won the season series for the first time since 2017, with a 19-14 win over Baltimore. It also coincides with the last time the Steelers made the playoffs.

“To be bluntly honest,” an agitated Tomlin said postgame. “I’m really disappointed in our performance tonight. We did enough to win, but that’s it.”

Tomlin appeared infuriated at his team’s performance as he listed one by one the disconnect between the team, he witnessed play and the team he envisions playing to the standard required to be champions.

“It was really junior varsity to be quite honest with you,” Tomlin said. “It was in all three phases. We couldn’t run the ball effectively when we needed to. We dropped too many significant passes, very catchable makeable passes. We didn’t make significant plays in the special teams’ game. Our kickoff coverage unit wasn’t good enough, we turned the damn ball over!”

That thorough and livid observation eventually made it’s way to the other side of the football where he scolded the defense for not

“We gave up big plays in critical moments on defense,” Tomlin said. “Can’t have it! They converted a long run on a possession down before the half – Unacceptable! They had a 70-yard touchdown late in the game – Unacceptable!”

That is the genius of Tomlin, after his team become just the tenth team since the NFL/AFL merged in 1970, to reach 11-0.

“Aww, I don’t know,” Tomlin said in regard to if this game was one of the more aggravating he’s coached. “I know this was pretty frustrating.” 

Scolding each unit and demanding improvement and not allowing the short week due to the Covid-19 nearly pushed this game being played in an unprecedented Week 18, as an excuse for the lack of attention to detail.

To dig into his team when they might be relishing in the comfort of having the best record in the National Football League, Tomlin decided to send a clear message to his team that this type of performance is not going to help Pittsburgh reach the final destination.

Since 2018, Robert Griffin III started two games in the NFL, in both those games, he faced the Steelers. Last year with the Ravens holding the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, Griffin III got the win 28-10, as the Ravens rested starter Lamar Jackson.

This time around Covid-19 was the culprit that allowed Griffin III to make his 56th start in the National Football League, he was unable to duplicate this last result, being battered and pushed around by the Steelers defense. He would eventually exit the game with a pulled hamstring.

The win almost guarantees the Steelers the AFC North title, which Baltimore has won the two previous seasons. It should be noted no team in the division has won it three years in a row since its realignment in 2002.

A sloppy first quarter was plagued with a barrage of turnovers by both teams that also coincided with each team scoring their first points of the game. A seesaw of miscues was the foundation for Steelers Joe Haden second pick six in his 11-year NFL career.

Gus Edwards fumbled the exchange from Griffin marked the first turnover. Pittsburgh took the ball and then Ben Roethlisberger threw an ill-advised interception in the end zone that Tyus Bowser retuned for 11 yards.

The next series Haden jumped the pass intended for rookie James Proche that led to the first points of the game. A missed PAT by Chris Boswell had Pittsburgh ahead 6-0.

The Ravens would punt on their next drive, in which Steelers Ray-Ray McCloud fumbled on the Steelers 17-yard line. Baltimore would capitalize on the opportunity and take a 7-6 lead with two minutes remaining in the first quarter. The game was ugly and never felt either team got into a rhythm. The carnage of Covid-19 robbed this game of its potential to be special.

Without James Conner in the line-up, Pittsburgh utilized a pass heavy offense in the first half. Roethlisberger attempted 25 passes seven less (32) than he attempted in their first meeting earlier this season. Ranking 16th in the league in rushing attempts with 26.5 per game, the Steelers ran the football only 20 times against Baltimore, with five of those carries coming on their final two drives of the game.

“Just the way the game developed,” Roethlisberger said. “Kind of what we felt we had to do.”

Roethlisberger would finish with 51 passing attempts the most he has attempted this season. The passing game did remain true to its identity, distributing the football to eight different receivers, for 266 passing yards with one touchdown and interception. In his 229 games played, he has attempted 50-plus passes 11 times in his career.

“It has been a very challenging last few days,” Roethlisberger said. “I guess at the end of the day we won the game, so we could be thankful for that. We have to be prepared in another short week against a football team coming in that’s playing well. We’ll just have to do what we can. We’ll go home and start preparing tonight.”

Tomlin wants to keep the team focused, especially with speculation that Bud Dupree will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. That injury along with Devin Bush is another massive hit to arguably the leagues top defensive unit. One might wonder if part of Tomlin tirade postgame was the realization that Dupree may have played his final game for the Steelers, since he’ll be able to sign with anyone next season when 2021 free agency begins.

A lot of football to played as Pittsburgh will calmly aim to remain the NFL’s only unbeaten.