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Mike Tomlin: Scoreboard watching not in Pittsburgh Steelers' game plan

By The Sports Xchange
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin says neither he or his players keep check on how their division rivals are doing, stating that they know that if they take care of their business, they'll earn a spot in the playoffs. File Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin says neither he or his players keep check on how their division rivals are doing, stating that they know that if they take care of their business, they'll earn a spot in the playoffs. File Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

PITTSBURGH -- With four regular-season games remaining, the Pittsburgh Steelers are on the outside looking in of the AFC playoffs.

But Mike Tomlin and his players say they don't scoreboard watch to see how the division rival Baltimore Ravens are doing. They know full well that if they take care of their business, they'll win the division and earn a spot in the playoffs.

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"I don't because I know that if we handle the business in our stadium we don't have to look outside at Baltimore or anyone else," Tomlin said following the Steelers' 24-14 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday, their third consecutive victory to remain in a tie with the Ravens atop at the AFC North division. "We're going to stay singularly focused on that. Because I would imagine at some point we'll be in the stadium with those guys."

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Some point is Christmas Day, when the Ravens pay a visit to Heinz Field, but the Steelers (7-5) have to keep on winning for that game to matter. Up next is a trip to Buffalo to face a 6-6 Bills team that is clinging to playoff hopes of their own.

The Steelers have overcome a 4-5 start to remain in contention for the AFC North title. Their three-game winning streak has happened because the defense is vastly improved. In the three consecutive victories, the defense has allowed nine, seven and 14 points. The Giants scored their second touchdown Sunday with just 26 seconds remaining or it would have been a third consecutive game holding opponents under 10 points.

"I just think we're finding our rhythm," Tomlin said. "I think we're gaining continuity with the mix of guys who are playing. The young guys are growing up. And by the young guys I mean Javon Hargrave, Artie Burns and Sean Davis.

"But just generally, I think it's about the cohesion and the guys are gaining rhythm in that way, in terms of not only knowing what they're doing, but knowing what's going on around them. I think that allows them to play harder and faster. And that's what we need. That produces the atmosphere where big things happen for us."

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Hargrave, Burns and Davis are the top three draft picks who were chosen to inject some youth and playmaking skills into a defense that struggled defending the pass last season. Burns, a corner, and Davis, a safety, have locked down starting jobs in the past month. Hargrave, a defensive lineman, has been a starter since the beginning of the season.

Davis recorded his first career interception against Eli Manning and Burns sometimes drew the assignment to cover New York top receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

"Artie is playing well," veteran corner Ross Cockrell said. "Sean Davis is playing well. We are going to need those rookies to continue to play like veterans for us."

REPORT CARD VS. GIANTS

PASSING OFFENSE: A-minus -- It was yet another top-notch performance from Ben Roethlisberger in a home game at Heinz Field. He threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns and posted a 98.0 quarterback rating. He has 17 touchdowns and just three interceptions in home games this season. Roethlisberger threw one of his touchdowns to Antonio Brown for his NFL-leading 11th touchdown catch of the season. His second touchdown pass was to tight end Ladarius Green. It was Green's first touchdown catch as a Steeler and a good sign for an offense that has been searching for a viable No. 2 option opposite Brown.

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RUSHING OFFENSE: A -- Le'Veon Bell recorded his third consecutive 100-yard game, the first time he's accomplished that in his four-year career. Bell had 118 yards on 29 carries, and the fact that it came against one of the NFL's top run defenses was most impressive. He had 87 of those 118 yards after halftime. The ability to close out an opponent with the running game is something the Steelers had been seeking. And they might need to rely on it again with the rest of their games in northern climates, including this week's game in Buffalo.

PASS DEFENSE: A -- For a unit that has struggled against good passing teams this season, limiting Eli Manning and the Giants to 195 passing yards was a step in the right direction. Odell Beckham Jr. had 10 catches for 100 yards, but he was held to one catch for 10 yards in the first half when the Giants trailed by 14 points. Many of his catches and yards came late in the game when the Steelers held a 24-7 lead and were in a prevent defense. Corners Ross Cockrell and Artie Burns did a fairly good job of keeping him in check throughout most of the game.

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RUSH DEFENSE: A -- The rush defense was a big problem in the first half of the season, but it's been really solid in the past three games. The Steelers held the Giants to 56 yards on 14 carries and made them into a one-dimensional offense by limiting them to 21 yards on eight carries in the first half. It was the third consecutive game that the Steelers held an opponent to fewer than 100 yards. They'll have to keep it up because Buffalo, where the Steelers play next week, is second in the league in rushing.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B-minus -- Randy Bullock was signed Saturday after starting place kicker Chris Boswell injured his abdomen after practice on Friday. He came through with field goals of 44, 34 and 38 yards to help the Steelers beat the Giants. Give special teams coach Danny Smith credit for knowing Bullock was 3 for 3 previously at Heinz Field, which can be a difficult place to kick. Bullock converted all three attempts at Heinz Field against the Steelers in a Monday night game in 2014, when he kicked for the Houston Texans. Unfortunately for Smith, his other units continue to struggle with penalties. Receiver Sammie Coates was called for a 15-yard penalty when he grabbed the face mask of an opponent on a punt. And Coates again made a mistake when he brought a kickoff out of the end zone. He failed to get to the 20 and a holding penalty forced the Steelers back inside their 10.

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COACHING: B -- Let's give Mike Tomlin some credit for having his team playing better as it heads into the final month of the season. The Steelers have won three consecutive games to get to 7-5 after a four-game losing streak put their playoff hopes on life support. But they're back in the thick of the playoff race and tied with the Ravens atop the AFC North with a 7-5 record. Tomlin improved to 26-13 in games played in December, a trademark that has fueled previous runs to the playoffs for his team.

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