Steelers remain focused on task at hand
There was no celebration in the Steelers’ locker room in Atlanta on Sunday.
No champagne was uncorked.
But after beating the Falcons, 27-20, the Steelers did something they had been unable to accomplish in the previous two years – win a ninth game.
The Steelers improved to 9-5, but even though they had been stuck at 8-8 the previous two years, nobody was looking at the latest victory as a milestone.
“I’m a guy who never wanted to have a losing season,” said Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. “Eight (wins) gets you a non-losing season. We’ve got nine now. We’re just going to keep going.”
A 10th win Sunday at home against the Kansas City Chiefs would be a little more important. If the Steelers beat Kansas City (8-6), they will clinch at least a wild-card spot in the playoffs, ending a two-year postseason hiatus.
With victories in their final two games – Pittsburgh hosts Cincinnati in Week 17 – the Steelers will wrap up the AFC North title and secure a home playoff game.
However, a loss in either game could leave the Steelers out of the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
Things are still jumbled in the AFC.
“The job is not done,” said defensive end Cam Heyward. “We really want to hit all our goals. That means first getting to the playoffs and then making some noise.”
Unlike in the previous two seasons, the Steelers control their own fate.
And ironically, the Chiefs are involved again, just as they were in each of the last two years.
In 2012, Pittsburgh seemed to be on a similar trajectory until Roethlisberger was injured in a 16-13 overtime win against Kansas City at home that improved the Steelers’ record to 6-3. The Steelers went 1-2 without their starting quarterback and then lost the first three games after he returned. The last of those three losses, to Cincinnati, knocked the Steelers out of playoff contention, but they won their final game of the season against Cleveland to finish 8-8.
Last season, the Steelers opened with four consecutive losses and were 2-6 at the midway point before winning six of their final eight games.
After beating the Browns again in Week 17 to move to 8-8, Pittsburgh would have reached the postseason had the Chiefs won at San Diego. However, Kansas City, which had already clinched a playoff berth and was resting 20 of 22 starters, had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation, but Ryan Succop missed a 41-yard field goal and San Diego went on to win in overtime.
With six victories in the past eight games, the Steelers have shown they have the wherewithal to find ways to win and not rely on outside help.
“Every year is a new year,” said tight end Heath Miller. “The last two years don’t matter.”
Pittsburgh’s defense allowed 407 yards to the Falcons but came up with two critical stops in the red zone in the third quarter to force Atlanta to kick field goals. It also got an interception return for a touchdown from cornerback William Gay – his team-record third of the season – and forced a three-and-out in the fourth quarter that allowed the offense to run out the clock.
“We are who we are, and we are not a perfect group by any stretch,” head coach Mike Tomlin said. “But we will fight the fight until the end together.”
By beating the Falcons, Roethlisberger became the sixth quarterback in NFL history with wins against 31 or more teams. Brett Favre and Peyton Manning have beaten all 32 teams, while Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Kerry Collins have wins over 31. … Le’Veon Bell moved past Ray Matthews, who had 762 receiving yards in 1955, for the most receiving yards by a Steelers running back in a single season. Bell has 765 yards.