Steelers - 21, Patriots - 14
MT: Man, it's great to win in the National Football League. Appreciative of the efforts today. Certainly required 60 minutes of effort in all three phases to get it done. Certainly there's a lot of things to work on, but it's good to do that with a win.
A couple things of note. I thought we started fast offensively, but then we stalled out obviously, particularly in the second half. A lot of credit goes to New England and their defense and what they were doing. They were major components of that.
Defensively I thought we were really tight in the red zone and things of that nature. I thought we could have been better on possession downs. Thankfully we took the ball away from them to alleviate some of that lack of possession down success.
All in all, it was a good team victory. We fought for 60 minutes. We utilized a lot of people -- specialization of talent, division of labor, things of that nature. Still finding our way with the number of new people and people out and things of that nature. So it was a good experience.
No significant injuries to mention. Slay missed some time in the game with a leg contusion. I think he was able to get back in and finish, same with Broderick, but we'll stack this one.
Q. What's done down there by the goal line, how big was the one at the end of the half?
MT: Huge. That's why we spend as much time practicing down in that space as we do as a collective. We've got to be great on defense in an effort to win the points. We've got to be great on offense. When you take the ball away, you get all seven points. Usually you're fighting for four, but man, those takeaways, particularly down there, were big.
Q. The defense technique is some of the things you're working on in practice with the punching and stuff like that?
MT: No question. We spend a lot of time on our ball search culture. But it's just words, it's an agenda. The efforts of the guys make it real, not only on Sunday but during the course of the week. It just felt like we were heading toward a good game in that area, just the way we worked this week in that area.
Q. The passing game in the end, boom, boom, boom, right down the field Aaron makes the plays.
MT: That's oftentimes the case, man. It cannot be going the way that you desire, but you'd better have enough emotion, you'd better have enough belief. You'd better stay the course in an effort to do that.
You can say the same thing about the defense in New York, and we were able to finish it at the end. Same thing with the offense today, but that's what team is about.
Q. Walking out through the tunnel, does this week have any more significance than it's good to win in the NFL as you just said?
MT: It's good to win in the NFL, as you just said.
Q. Rhamondre's fumbles have been an issue throughout his career. Was that a coaching point for you this week?
MT: It is, but it is every week. We identify opportunities, and certainly he had some fumble issues last year. So it was an agenda item for us.
Q. What are your thoughts about how Derrick Harmon played in his regular season debut?
MT: I was appreciative of his efforts, excited for him. He's a competitor. He wanted to be out there with his teammates. I thought he represented himself well today. It's upwards and onwards from here.
Q. I guess 97 did surprise you?
MT: Never. 97 and 90, never surprised.
Q. What surprise did Drake Maye provide for your defense today?
MT: His mobility is an issue, particularly in short yardage moments, fourth down and one and things of that nature. Quarterback play I thought was a factor in some of those things. He got out on the edge on us and extended some possessions. Not that we were surprised by it, it's a component of his game, and it's a component of his game that we respect.
Q. Echols played a lot more snaps. Can you speak to the effort and the tackle?
MT: He's been real solid, but he's been real solid throughout this whole process for us, team development and so forth. He made some big plays today, the interception, the fourth down tackle. He was engaged in the game. He is a good teammate, and I'm glad we got him.
Q. Can you speak to his efforts today coming straight back?
MT: I thought he played with great energy and communication. For a guy that's new, his level of communication is unique in terms of adjustments and so forth. But he's a veteran. He's got a good passion for the game, good relationship with the game, and certainly it's good to win.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports