The Pittsburgh Steelers needed some help entering Week 18 to make the postseason. Not only did they have to defeat the Baltimore Ravens, but they would need other teams to lose as they were climbing out of a self-created hole from a late-season swoon.
With Baltimore sitting and resting most of their regulars, Pittsburgh was able to get the job done on Saturday night, winning 17-10. That got them to 10 victories on the season and Lady Luck was on their side as they got the help they needed on Sunday.
The Jacksonville Jaguars lost on the road to the Tennessee Titans, resulting in the Houston Texans taking home the AFC South. The Buffalo Bills defeated the Miami Dolphins, which means the Steelers are heading on the road to face Buffalo during Super Wild Card Weekend.
NFL News & Rumors: Mike Tomlin, T.J. Watt, Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers Updates
Unfortunately for the Steelers, they will not be at full strength for the game. Star outside linebacker T.J. Watt has already been ruled out for the game. He suffered a knee injury against the Ravens and won’t be able to take the field.
“Obviously playing without T.J. is significant, but to be quite honest with you, we’ve played without a lot of people this year,” head coach Mike Tomlin said. “It’s just another opportunity for us to strike a blow for team and to display what team really means, a collective of individuals that work together in an effort to produce an outcome. It’s not going to be a one-man job in terms of replacing T.J. … Just like I stood before you and said similar things when Cameron Heyward missed a block of games, it is going to be a by committee approach.
“We better strengthen our output in other areas because T.J. is one of a kind, but that’s ball. There’s an attrition component to it. That’s what makes it the ultimate team game.”
The Steelers are going to need other players to step up in the absence of Watt. There isn’t a single player on the roster that will be able to replicate what Watt does. It will take a total team effort to replace what he brings to the table as an elite pass rusher.
Two players they will certainly be counting on are rookie Nick Herbig and veteran Markus Golden. Golden got a sack on Tyler Huntley in Week 18 that helped the Steelers seal the victory.
NFL News & Rumors: Mike Tomlin, T.J. Watt, Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers Updates
“It hadn’t been a lot of times where I think about not having T.J. to be quite honest with you, but we’ve got depth at the position,” Tomlin said. “That’s why we went out and thoughtfully acquired Markus Golden. That’s why we drafted Herbig. We’re as deep at that position as we’ve been in some time. We’re comfortable with the quality of depth.”
While losing Watt hurts, the Steelers are at least optimistic about getting one of their stars back in the lineup. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who hasn’t played since Week 15 when he sustained a knee injury against the Indianapolis Colts, should be back. Fellow safety Damontae Kazee will be eligible to return from suspension as he hasn’t played since the Colts game either.
Another big announcement Tomlin made was that Mason Rudolph would continue on as the team’s starting quarterback. Rudolph led the team to three victories in a row to close out the regular season and has earned the chance to start a playoff game this upcoming weekend.
What does that mean for the future of Kenny Pickett? It certainly sounds like the Steelers still consider him their quarterback of the future, but Tomlin is opting to ride the hot hand into the postseason.
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