Steelers 18, Ravens 16
MIKE TOMLIN: It was a tough, hard-fought game. It always is. We're just really appreciative of being in these games because we realize the growth associated with it obviously when you get it done.
So I'm excited for the guys in that locker room. They're excited, and they should be. They made the necessary plays. Certainly it wasn't perfect, man, but it's not going to be when it's highly competitive and you're playing good people.
I like the way our guys responded to the challenge. Particularly our defense, man. A lot was written and said about that offense coming into this game, and rightfully so, man. They have a lot of talent. They have a lot of weapons. They have good schematics.
Our guys played hard and together, and man, I'm appreciative of that. We had some bumps and bruises associated with play. I think most went back. Joey Porter went back. I think shin contusion. Keeanu Benton is a guy that probably needs further evaluation.
We had a short week this week. We have another AFC North battle waiting on us. We respect that. We won't waste too much time patting ourselves on the back because that next challenge is right around the corner, man.
But this is what we signed up for. This is what we live for. This is the ultimate competitor's league. You know, we swimming in these waters.
It's good. It's good to get to know ourselves. It's good to smile in the face of adversity that the game and life presents and come through the other side of it. I'll pause and open it up for questions.
Q. What was it you were able to do defensively to limit what Baltimore did?
MIKE TOMLIN: We did what we always do, to be quite honest with you. You better play hard, fast, and together when you play this group and when you play Mr. Jackson. His talents are unique. Their schematics are unique. Forget the minutia of what it is you do. You better play hard, fast, and together or you have no shot. We always start there.
Q. Your team is fortunate that you have a kicker like Chris Boswell that can actually score all points that you would need to secure a win.
MIKE TOMLIN: I love Bos, and I'm tired of him getting player of the week. He probably got player of the week again this week. He is deserving of it, but it reminds us of our warts. It reminds us of the work that we need to do. But, man, no doubt I'm thankful that he's on our team.
Q. How do you evaluate your offense then in this game?
MIKE TOMLIN: W.
Q. Coach, your thoughts on just your team's ability to make the splash plays, including an interception by Payton Wilson?
MIKE TOMLIN: You know, it starts with belief in self, individually and collectively. There's no shortage of that. Then those guys just locking in during the course of the prep week, man, and they realize that these big games are oftentimes defined by how you work.
We know we're going to have an edge in bowls like that, on days like today. We have to have an edge on Wednesday and Thursday and Friday, and they do. That gives us a real chance.
Q. Justin Tucker, numerous amount of times, have you ever seen him kind of struggle like that?
MIKE TOMLIN: Not for me to answer.
Q. Mike, this is the best statistical offense in the NFL, but especially in the second half. What did it mean that you were able to keep them in check the way you did, especially Jackson-Henry?
MIKE TOMLIN: We have to. These AFC North relationships are intimate ones. We don't have a choice. You can't circumvent that challenge. You have to go through it. Thankfully today we did.
Q. There's been so much talk about Justin Fields. When will we see Justin Fields on the field utilizing the pass? So we finally saw that happen today. What can you say about his play?
MIKE TOMLIN: You know, it was timely. He had a minor hamstring on the other side of the bye that kind of slowed some of this. We haven't been bashful about our intentioned.
I know sometimes you think we make stuff up, but he is a capable dude. We're going to utilize him. He's really talented. I'm excited about both of these quarterbacks we have on our roster. They're both going to be reasons why we're going to be successful and have been.
Equally as important as that is they're really good people, man. They're supportive of each other. They're hand-in-the-pile guys, and Justin has really reflected that. He had a heck of a week, man, representing Mr. Jackson for us, for example. So I'm glad he had an opportunity to contribute and put his hand in the pile and being a component of why we were successful.
Q. What can you say about Queen today?
MIKE TOMLIN: One man's trash is another man's treasure. I'm glad he is on our team.
Q. Things came down to that two-point conversion at the end. What was going through your mind at that point?
MIKE TOMLIN: I wanted to see what structure they were in and call a time-out, and we did that. Thankfully we even saw some of the semblance of the schematics of what they intended to run. I think that made them change and go the other direction.
Obviously particularly Mr. Jackson is a little bit less dangerous when he is going to his left than his right. So we're thankful for that.
Q. When you talked to Payton Wilson before that interception. Any type of motivational message there?
MIKE TOMLIN: We were talking all week, he and I, about his matchup with 43. He is a pass situation linebacker. 43 is a pass situation runner. He is a young guy. He being Payton. So we knew that they were going to go at him. He needed to be prepared.
We worked him all week in terms of that matchup. That rail route that he picked off, the screen game that's associated with it, Payton did a nice job preparing himself and not blinking and communicating in game and understanding the urgency of that matchup.
I think that's why he was successful. I think you create your fortune sometimes when you are locked in, and he was locked in, very cognizant of the challenge, and rose up to meet it.
Q. Do you anticipate any personnel changes when it comes to Broderick Jones and maybe some of the unforced errors that he --
MIKE TOMLIN: I am not worried about that. You guys can write all you want. Broderick Jones is playing right tackle for us. He is going to continue to get better.
He's a top-quality players in terms of his talent. He's a young guy. He's experiencing some on-the-job training. He and I will not blink. He riding.
Q. If somebody had said to you before the game that you could beat the Ravens without scoring a touchdown, what would your reaction have been?
MIKE TOMLIN: Steelers-Ravens.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports