Not as much at stake in this AFC North matchup
matchup and prevent their thoughts from drifting to, say, the Dec. 17 game against the Patriots?
“I understand what you’re asking,’’ Tomlin said. “Maybe globally it’s a reasonable question. I just think AFC North, Cincinnati Bengals, our recent history against these guys, how emotional these games are, how big these games have been.
“How many times have we played these guys in December and January in the last few years? And seemingly always in Cincy. I think those things have captured the attention of our guys. It’s AFC North ball.”
So far, it’s been AFC No ball. The Bengals trail them by four games, the Ravens by three. The Steelers can wrap up the division title over the next two weeks by beating each of their closest rivals for the second time this season.
The Steelers still would like to avoid the Bengals, most specifically linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who helped ruin their Super Bowl chances in 2015. Burfict ended Le’Veon Bell’s 2015 season halfway through it with a knee-bending tackle. And in the playoffs that season, he used a vicious hit to the head to knock Antonio Brown from the next playoff game in Denver, which the Steelers’ lost.
Sacking at record clip
Cam Heyward’s nine sacks already are more than any Steelers player has had since James Harrison led them with nine in 2011 and tied for the most by a Steelers defensive end in 31 years.
They are the most by an end since Aaron Smith led the team with eight in 2004. Ray Seals had 8.5 in 1995, half a sack off Kevin Greene’s nine that led the defense that season. Jerrol Williams led them with nine in 1991.
Heyward has a ways to go to become the one-season sack leader among Steelers defensive ends. Keith Willis had 14 in 1983 and followed with 12 in 1986, but after Heyward added two Sunday night, it is within his grasp.
Heyward’s prowess at getting to the quarterback should not be surprising, even though it’s more difficult to do so for an end in a 34 defense compared to a 4-3.
He led the Steelers with seven in 2015 and tied for the lead with 7.5 in 2014. He might have led them again last season if he hadn’t missed half of it with a torn chest muscle. His three was two behind sack leader James Harrison’s five.
Tomlin was asked if Heyward has been seeing double-teams because of his domination this season.
“I think we’re so multiple defensively, particularly in those scenarios — possession downs and so forth — that it’s difficult to do that, to identify anyone in that way. We bring such a myriad of people — DBs, outside linebackers, inside linebackers along with the defensive line — that I really think that that’s a slippery slope, trying to minimize his impact.
“I think that’s probably one of the reasons that he’s continued to be effective and it’s difficult to slow down his progress. He’s playing really well, but he’s probably difficult to minimize because of the multiple things we do in those circumstances.”