Michael Dixon
The Pittsburgh Steelers will host the New England Patriots in what is certainly the biggest game of Week 15. Some coaches might downplay the game’s significance. Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin, known for downplaying these types of things normally, is breaking character by pumping it up.
“It’s good to be in big games. It’s better to be in big games than ones nobody’s watching,” Tomlin said, via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “We better be appreciative of this spot and not resistant in any way, but embrace it. This is what we’ve been fighting for since March, to be in these types of games against these types of people. Why would you fight that? It’s an awesome thing.”
Really, this is the right approach. A look at the standings shows how significant this game is.
A Steelers’ win, coupled with a loss by the Jacksonville Jaguars, would clinch the No. 1 seed for the Steelers. Conversely, if New England wins, it would be in a tie with Pittsburgh, and the Patriots would hold the tiebreaker. A Steelers loss and a Jaguars win would put Jacksonville only one game behind Pittsburgh for the No. 2 seed, and the Jaguars would also have the tiebreaker.
Here’s a look at all the playoff-clinching scenarios this week.
Tomlin doesn’t view being in a game like this as a burden. Far from it, in fact.
“It’s good to be in the kitchen. The kitchen’s in Pittsburgh, PA, this week in the National Football League, and at Heinz Field,” Tomlin said, per Fowler. “That’s where you want to be in the middle of December. We don’t take it for granted.”
The bad news for Tomlin and the Steelers is that Tom Brady has a great record against Pittsburgh. Including the postseason, he’s 10-2 vs. the Steelers. The good news, however, is that both of the losses came in Pittsburgh.
