Steelers at Patriots: AFC Championship Tomlin Tuesday
The Steelers are gearing up to face the New England Patriots for a shot at Super Bowl LI.
Before the AFC title game gets underway we have some business to attend to in terms of the weekly Mike Tomlin press conference. Tomlin wraps up the previous game, updates injury statuses, breaks down the upcoming game and answers questions.
Just like last week there was a matter of extra activity to discuss at the beginning of the presser. Last week it was Joey Porter’s South Side arrest and this week it was Antonio Brown’s Facebook Live video.
He also explained that based on the magnitude of the game the team is faced with and their mentality he’s pretty confident that this won’t be a distraction.
I don’t think there’s any way that anyone on the team or within the organization or anyone familiar with Brown thinks he did this with any bad intentions but the fact that he had no consideration for his teammates is the issue. Even though several players where present in the video and none of them told him to stop it.
So, we’ll see where this goes from here. I’m sure it’s not completely over it. The hot takes won’t just dry up overnight.
More from Still Curtain
Injuries
The injury situation is pretty good considering the team is about to play their 19th game this weekend. James Harrison will be limited by a shoulder and triceps injury and Anthony Chickillo is still dealing with his ankle injury that has sidelined him for the past several weeks.
Sean Davis is playing through a shoulder injury as is Vince Williams. Ricardo Matthews has an ankle injury and Fitzgerald Toussaint and Ladarius Green are still in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
The fact that Green is still in the protocol is pretty alarming and disappointing. I’m not sure at what point we’re hoping that he returns to play and when we’re just hoping he’s going to be ok. At this point it is a little bit of both.
Wrapping up the win over the Kansas City Chiefs
To wrap up the Chiefs Tomlin lauded the efforts of the defense for bouncing back after allowing an opponent to score on their opening drive for the first time this season. The Chiefs didn’t score again until the second half.
The special teams did their part of holding Tyreek Hill in check and preventing huge returns. And while the lack of efficiency in the red zone can’t be ignored you have to give it to Chris Boswell for his NFL-record six field goals.
Breaking down the Patriots
When breaking down the New England Patriots there’s really no need to talk them up. They’re good. Whatever, they cheat anyway.
Questions
Tomlin was asked about how the team has never had to go through New England before for any of their Super Bowl appearances but he turned the tables pretty good on that. He reminded everyone that the Patriots hadn’t had to go through Pittsburgh either since he’s been there. Touché.
He said that with his team going into their 20th work week since the start of the regular season he’s not at all worried about fatigue whether mental or physical. He said that this team has plenty of time to rest in the last three weeks of February.
With that said let’s get these a—holes. Bring on the Patriots!
Very few “Obviously’s” used this week. I counted less than five.
You can listen to Tomlin’s entire presser right here.
Here we go Steelers! Here we go!