Mike Tomlin: “We’ll Absorb It, We’ll Be Back”

In the times when a victory is priceless, the Pittsburgh Steelers dropped two of them in a short span. After losing to Broncos on the road 21-16, Ben Roethlisberger and his teammates failed once again to deliver a final hit to a dazed opponent.

This time, it were the Chargers who defeat Steelers, 33-30, making a memorable performance which will stay forever written in the history books. The guests from Los Angeles became the first team ever who came back after trailing 16 points at Heinz Field.

For coach Mike Tomlin there isn’t to much time to spend whining over the past, but instead, his boys need to look in the mirror, understand where they made mistakes and move on.

“Disappointing game in a lot of ways, first and foremost because of the result. We got to win those; we didn’t, there are consequences, we’ll absorb it, will be back.” Tomlin said at the press conference.

#LIVE: Coach Tomlin addresses the media following tonight’s game vs. the Chargers in the @IronCityBeer Postgame Press Conference. https://t.co/Ht2BhOnH0A

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 3, 2018

He didn’t want to talk too much, saying that at this time of the year, when you win you need to speak little, and when you lose you have to say even less.

When one reporter asked about the judging of the officials, Tomlin did follow his above-mentioned saying, but it was obvious that he had a lot to add on that matter.

“You know, I’ma keep my mouth shut. I’ma do that. Cause I’ve sent enough money to New York.”

On two occasions, the Steelers have been damaged. Both of them involved a touchdown by the guests. The referees didn’t saw two obvious fouls of the Chargers players, one offside made by RT Sam Tevi, and the other more obvious block in the back by CB Brian Allen.

If one of these two scores had been canceled, there is no doubt that the result would have been much different.

According to Tomlin his reaction now wouldn’t change anything, and for him, it is wiser to be quiet and avoid further fines or maybe even a suspension. The reporters were questioning him about the questionable calls, and at some point the 46-year old interrupted that.

“Hey guys, I’m not getting into the officiating elements of what transpired and how it was communicated,” Pittsburgh’s HC stated, “I’m just not. It’s fruitless. It doesn’t change the outcome of the game.”

Afterward, the questions became more related to the performances of his players, and the game itself. One referred to Chris Boswell’s extra-point miss. The reporter wanted to know does this concern Tomlin, because his kicker missed several shots recently.

For him, many more things were much worse than Boswell’s kick.

“You know, it was so many other things that transpired in the game, that I’m not ready to address that element of it, you know. Obviously he has to make extra points… But there were a lot of things that transpired in that game, an I’m not ready to address that.”

Among other things was a pale offensive team, who just froze in the last 15 minutes. Starting with Roethlisberger who had a lot of bad passes. As soon as James Connor went out because of his injury, the Steelers were evidently without a productive weapon.

For the second time in a row, their offense is the one which fails to decide the game and that is something which hasn’t been seen for quite some time.

Now, if the bad calls did affect the defensive team, and prevented them from performing well, what happened with the offense.

Brutal no call. Clear false start on the RT. Instead, a Chargers TD. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/bg4v0YY4TF

— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) December 3, 2018

At the moment, nobody knows the answer to that question.

Still, the hope doesn’t fades, and Antonio Brown thinks that there is enough time to correct all mistakes.

“There’s a quarter left of football,” Brown said. “We’ve got to continue to figure out a way to win and get ourselves to the dance.”

During that quarter the Steelers will face the Raiders next week in Oakland, then host the Patriots, in what might be the decisive match for them, then travel to New Orleans and in the end play with the Bengals at Heinz Field. It will be hard to reach the first two places, but three wins from these contests should secure the top spot in the AFC North.