PITTSBURGH — When the Pittsburgh Steelers played the Browns in mid-November, they were 4-5 and in search of a way to keep their season afloat. The 24-9 victory over the Browns in Cleveland was the first win of the current six-game winning streak that ignited the late-season run that secured the second AFC North division title in three years for the Steelers.
The second meeting of the series doesn’t have the same meaning. Actually, the game is meaningless for the Steelers because they cannot improve their seeding in the AFC playoffs. Nonetheless, with the Browns on the schedule again it is a good time to look back on what turned the season back in the right direction.
After a 35-30 home loss to Dallas, the coaches made the decision that the team’s identity was going to change. No longer would the Steelers be solely reliant on the right arm of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The new Steelers were going to rely on the running game and be supplemented by the passing game.
Running back Le’Veon Bell rushed for 146 yards in that first game against the Browns. Since then, he’s rushed for at least 100 yards in four of the other five games. During the six-game winning streak, Bell is averaging 127 rushing yards per game.
“I think our guys just embraced certain elements of December ball that will probably be unchanged, regardless of how the game of professional football evolves,” head coach Mike Tomlin said. “We ran the ball effectively, and largely, we did a nice job of stopping the run. That puts you in position to win possession downs and keep the chains moving, scoring points on offense. And that puts you in position to win possession downs and create splash on defense.
“It’s important that you continually evolve in those areas over the course of the season. There are usually things that occur that are potentially capable of derailing that agenda, injury and so forth. But largely, our guys remain steadfast in our plan. We continue to grow in those areas over the course of the season, even at times where it appeared that growth was minimal, or there was no growth. I think it was revealed and revealed in a big way in December.”
The Steelers’ run defense has improved tremendously as well. In that loss to Dallas, the Cowboys rushed for 127 yards and became the third opponent in four games to rush for 100 yards or more. Since then, the Steelers have been so stingy against the run that they’re now ranked sixth in the league in rush defense.
Because the game means nothing to the Steelers, Tomlin will rest many of his star players, including Bell, All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown, Roethlisberger and center Maurkice Pouncey. It will be the first time since Bell was drafted in 2013 that the Steelers’ big three of Bell, Brown and Roethlisberger will go into a postseason healthy.
Bell missed the playoffs the past two seasons because of knee injuries and Brown missed the divisional round game against the Broncos last year with a concussion.
“It would be nice to take Le’Veon into a playoff stadium,” Tomlin said. “That is something we haven’t been able to do in the last two years. Antonio Brown, it would be nice to take him into a playoff stadium. We went to Denver last year without him. That’s not quite as fun as doing it with him. Maurkice Pouncey is another guy. I have been in playoff stadiums without him. I have been in a Super Bowl without him. It is more fun to do it with him.
“So, those are some of the guys that I will give consideration to. If I get the opportunity to deem those guys inactive, then I will. In general, our approach is going to be, if you are dressed, it is business as usual.”
Roethlisberger is not concerned about losing the offensive rhythm. He said he welcomes the rest at this time of the year.
“It’s just about getting older,” Roethlisberger said. “At this time of the year everyone is a little banged up and hurting. If coach says take the day off I’m not going to argue.
“Staying mentally strong is huge this time of the year, being mentally ready to go because it’s been a long season. Physically, it can be better if you get healthy and rested up.”