Mike Tomlin plans changes as the Steelers enter Week 13 with consecutive losses that dropped Pittsburgh to 5-5-1 and tied for third place in the AFC North.
The Steelers were routed by the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday (41-10) and last won Nov. 8, fighting off the Chicago Bears in a game that could have gone the other direction.
Up next: the division-leading Baltimore Ravens (8-3).
“We’ll see on Sunday, won’t we?” Tomlin said. “Like I mentioned earlier it’s put up and shut up time. Talking doesn’t get it done. I can quell you in that question with an answer, but it’s not real. What we do in that stadium on Sunday is real. We’re not seeking comfort, we’re not trying to quell the masses. We stunk it up, so we’re going to wallow in our stench for a while and wait for our next opportunity to play football.”
The remaining schedule for the Steelers is a gaunlet with a short-week date at Minnesota in Week 14 after what is typically a physical slugfest with the Ravens. Pittsburgh’s final four games are against the Titans (8-4), Chiefs (7-4), a primetime showdown with the Browns (6-6) and the season finale against the Ravens.
Cleveland eliminated the Steelers from the playoffs last season.
Among non-division leaders, there are now seven teams ahead of the Steelers in the wild-card race. Any loss is a serious setback at this point with the Bills, Chargers, Raiders, Broncos, Bengals, Colts and Browns all ahead of Pittsburgh.
Tomlin said there will be “hopefully significant” changes made this week but they won’t be “drastic.” He did say personnel and scheme must change.
“What you can’t do is continue to do the things you’ve been doing and expect a different result,” Tomlin said.
–Field Level Media
