PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are optimistic about their defense regaining full strength in time for their season-ending match against the Cincinnati Bengals. Coach Mike Tomlin expressed his hope on Monday that cornerback Joey Porter Jr. will return to action after being sidelined due to a knee injury that kept him out of the team’s 29-10 defeat against Kansas City on Christmas Day.
In that game, quarterback Patrick Mahomes exploited Pittsburgh’s weakened secondary, throwing for 320 yards and three touchdowns, leading to the Steelers’ third consecutive loss and complicating their position in the AFC North. For the Steelers (10-6) to clinch the division, they must secure a victory over the Bengals (8-8) on Saturday evening while relying on Baltimore to falter at home against a struggling Cleveland team earlier that day.
The Steelers’ defense has been underwhelming recently, allowing over 400 yards per game amid their losing streak. Players have indicated that the communication lapses displayed during the game against Kansas City are unacceptable, especially at this critical juncture of the season. Tomlin acknowledged that such vigorous discussions stem from the players’ dedication to improving performance.
“They argue because they care,” Tomlin stated, reflecting on the challenges the defense has faced recently. “We weren’t performing well, and often, the way to find solutions is through confrontation, especially in our line of work.” He also attributed some of the defensive struggles to injuries impacting both Porter and starting safety DeShon Elliott. Elliott returned to play against the Chiefs, and with Porter potentially back, the Steelers could field their complete starting defense—a rare advantage late in the season.
Earlier this season, the Steelers triumphed over the Bengals in a thrilling 44-38 encounter, where Cincinnati’s quarterback, Joe Burrow, threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns. Despite their current struggle, the Bengals have secured four consecutive victories and remain mathematically in the hunt for the playoffs, though they will require external assistance to extend their season.
The Steelers are already set to advance to the playoffs for the fourth time in five years. However, they have faced tough defeats from Philadelphia, Kansas City, and Baltimore in quick succession. Nonetheless, Tomlin aimed for a positive outlook regarding their current standing. “The road is narrowing, and it’s great to be in this position,” he said. “We could certainly be in a better spot, but we also recognize that it could be worse. So we are where we are.”
Tomlin mentioned that he hasn’t focused extensively on how results from the Ravens-Browns match might impact his strategy. A win in the season finale would secure the Steelers the top wild-card position in the AFC, or they could achieve it with a loss from the Los Angeles Chargers against the Las Vegas Raiders. Claiming the fifth seed would set up a playoff match against the struggling AFC South champion Houston rather than a challenging rematch against Baltimore, where the Steelers suffered a 34-17 defeat on December 21.
