Dec 22, 2015 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – Until further notice, the Steelers’ rotation at cornerback will stay the same.

At least that was the word Tuesday from head coach Mike Tomlin as the Steelers (9-5) prepare to head to Baltimore to face the Ravens (4-10) Sunday in a game that could clinch a spot in the AFC playoff field for Pittsburgh.

With two games remaining in the regular season, the Steelers rank next to last in pass defense in the NFL, allowing 279 yards per game. After giving up 300 passing yards in six of their first 11 games, the Steelers have held their last three opponents below that total, though it hasn’t always been pretty.

Pittsburgh gave up a 66-yard touchdown pass to Cincinnati’s A.J. Green two weeks ago and a 61-yard scoring pass Sunday to Denver’s Emmanuel Sanders. The catch-and-run by Sanders was one of three passing touchdowns the Steelers allowed in the first half against the Broncos.

But the bottom line in those games is the Steelers found a way to win, so Tomlin doesn’t see a reason to tinker with success.

“We’re going to continue with the rotation that we have and it hasn’t changed,” Tomlin said. “Sometimes, the numbers may change in terms of the number of snaps over the course of a game, but I wouldn’t read too much into that. Our rotation has been the same as it’s been for the last three or four weeks.”

It would seem that Antwon Blake, listed as the starter at right cornerback, would get the majority of the playing time. That hasn’t been the case the past three weeks as Brandon Boykin and Ross Cockrell each played more snaps than Blake. The latter rarely played in the second half against Denver, when the Steelers, who had allowed 290 yards and 27 points in the first half, shut out the Broncos.

Tomlin said he never lost faith in his defense, despite it allowing the Broncos to score touchdowns on four consecutive possessions in the first half.

“I don’t lack confidence in their level of play, but we have to play consistently well,” Tomlin said. “I don’t think anybody in that group lacks confidence. I think that’s one of the defining characteristics of the group, individually and collectively.”

After rolling through the portion of the schedule that many people said was the make-or-break portion of its season – Seattle, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Denver – the secondary can’t afford to take a breather against Baltimore.

Despite losing starting quarterback Joe Flacco to a knee injury Nov. 22 and starting Matt Schaub and Jimmy Clausen in the four games since then, Baltimore is eighth in the NFL in passing yards per game.

The Ravens might use their fourth starting quarterback of the season. Head coach John Harbaugh said Monday that recently signed Ryan Mallett might start against the Steelers.

“He has a strong arm, and he can attack you in a vertical manner,” Tomlin said. “We have to be prepared to defend the full field.”

Considering how they’ve struggled to defend the pass, the Steelers can’t take any quarterback lightly.

“They’re very capable,” Tomlin said. “We expect our play to look more like it did in the second half than it did in the first half of last week.”

Tomlin said safety Mike Mitchell aggravated a shoulder injury against the Broncos and will be limited in practice this week. … This will be the Steelers’ 40th game against the Ravens. The series began in 1996 and Pittsburgh leads, 21-18, though Baltimore has won the two in a row and four of the last five.