Steelers 19, Ravens 14
MIKE TOMLIN: To be bluntly honest, been really disappointed in our performance tonight. We did enough to win, but that's all. It was really junior varsity, to be quite honest with you. It was in all three phases.
We couldn't run the ball effectively when we needed to. We dropped too many significant passes, very catchable, makable passes. We didn't make significant plays in the special teams game. Our kickoff coverage unit wasn't good enough. We turned the damn ball over. We gave up big plays in critical moments on defense. Can't have it. They converted a long run on a possession down before the half. Unacceptable. They had a 70-yard touchdown late in the game. Unacceptable.
We're fortunate tonight. It's good to proceed with the victory. I acknowledge that. But not a lot happened tonight to be proud of or to be excited about other than that.
Bud got hurt. He's being evaluated. I'm sure I'll have an update for you tomorrow or whatever when we get an opportunity to meet.
Questions.
Q. What do you attribute your assessment of the performance to?
MIKE TOMLIN: It was just bad by all parties involved. Coaches first, players second.
Q. Did the disjointedness of the week, the schedule getting pushed back, have any...
MIKE TOMLIN: We make no excuses, we seek no comfort. We didn't play well, coach well tonight.
Q. Not just based on today, but throughout the season, James Washington obviously has been very reliable for you. What will it take for him to get more snaps, targets?
MIKE TOMLIN: He answers the bell when called upon. We're appreciative of that. Week to week we make plans that benefit us in terms of the matchup, and sometimes it includes him, and includes him heavily, and sometimes it doesn't.
Q. You guys have a short week to address any of the problems that arose in this game. Do you have enough time to turn things around before you play Washington?
MIKE TOMLIN: We don't have to reinvent the wheel. It's not some transformational thing that needs to transpire. We got to coach better and play better when we get inside the bowl. I expect our group to do that Monday night, Monday evening, whenever it is that we play.
Q. You lost Pouncey on fairly short notice. How would you evaluate the play of Hassenauer?
MIKE TOMLIN: I could not give you a fair assessment of him, to be honest with you, without watching the tape. I appreciate his willingness to answer the bell and his overall general readiness in that regard. But I got to watch the tape to give you a fair, honest assessment from that perspective.
Q. You had some red zone failures and a number of dropped passes. What to you attribute that to? Anything in particular?
MIKE TOMLIN: Us sucking.
Q. You were able to run the ball late in the game. Is that one positive that came out of this game?
MIKE TOMLIN: It's a positive in terms of the efforts of Benny Snell, to be quite honest with you. Too many unblocked people at the point of attack and things of that nature. It's more reflective of the individual efforts of Benny Snell.
Q. Did you want to try to get the running game more until that fourth quarter or were you satisfied?
MIKE TOMLIN: I don't care by what means we move it, as long as we move the ball effectively and we execute. We put them in good plays, get good execution.
I care less about whether it is specifically a run or pass, but I want it effective when we choose to do either.
Q. Can you remember last time where you were more frustrated with a victory?
MIKE TOMLIN: I don't know. I know this one's pretty frustrating.
THE MODERATOR: Thanks, coach.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports