ATLANTA -- In a season like this, there will be those who clamor for the Steelers to tank and obtain the highest draft picks possible. However, we all know Mike Tomlin won't do that. He has every intention of upholding "the Standard," and winning football games is a requirement.
While the Steelers are certainly in a better spot than they were before their bye, there's still one thing this team hasn't done: Win back-to-back games.
That won't be easy to do this week, despite the 5-7 record the Falcons carry into the game. The Steelers are playing on a short week, Jaylen Warren and T.J. Watt are questionable heading into the game and Atlanta will challenge the Steelers in ways they haven't truly seen this season.
"It's business. We're not paid by the hour. We embrace that," Tomlin said. "We’re competitors, and this is a competitor’s week."
I've stressed here time and time again that winning will do much more for this group of players going forward than losing as many games as possible for high draft picks. We've seen Kenny Pickett progress in multiple ways, especially over the past three weeks, and more positive performances from him could give the Steelers an earlier answer to the question: Is this our quarterback of the future?
Continued progression of the offensive line could better sort out which specific areas need to be addressed first. Some believe tackle is more important while others believe center would be more beneficial.
But, ironing out the weaknesses of the team should come in the vain of trying to win football games. And, once again, winning is the best environment for a young player to grow in.
And, yeah, the Steelers should beat a Falcons team that is ... limited.
"This should be our start to doing that, but it doesn't come easy," Cam Heyward said this week. "Can't be an on and off switch. It needs to just stay on."
The buy-in from players, both young and old, is evident. This past Monday night exemplified that pretty well. With the emergence of Warren, Benny Snell Jr. has been all but relegated to special teams duties and Anthony McFarland Jr. has been on the practice squad all season. However, those two stepped up in a big way, providing 92 of the 172 rushing yards in the win over the Colts.
In addition, only Minkah Fitzpatrick and Cam Sutton played every defensive snap in the secondary. It took a collective effort, and James Pierre stepped up with an early interception.
When the whole team buys in -- everyone from the starters down to the practice squad guys -- it holds everyone to a higher standard. That, in turn, breeds more opportunities for a game like this past Monday.
"It doesn't happen just solely in the stadium. This is not a patient man's business. We never ask these guys to be patient. We ask them to simply work while they wait for their opportunity, and their work shows when they get the opportunity," Tomlin said. "I thought that that was reflective of all of those guys. We’ll always have an inclusive mentality. Cody White got called up and elevated and was a contributor at wide receiver and on special teams as well. I'm just thankful for that group's collective readiness and the playmaking that added to our cause in a big way."
Forget the narrative that Tomlin doesn't want to avoid a losing season just to keep his streak alive. I can tell you right now Tomlin's legacy doesn't live or die on it. Many great coaches have had losing seasons. But, the great ones also breed players such as Heyward who turn into leaders in the locker room and hold everyone to the standard of winning, regardless of circumstance.
"I don't think we're ever dead," Heyward said. "We just gotta go play. We got to make sure that we hold up our end of the deal. Start stacking. It's not going to be easy. They have a pretty good team. They have a good pass rush on their side. They got really opportunistic special teams between their punt returner, kickoff returner and then on offense. They've got runners we got to make sure we handle. ... I'll take it one game at a time, but I want to win them all from here on out."
That's what the Steelers should be aiming to do. There's a reason why you hear athletes say, "Winning cures everything."
The Steelers have had their time of trial. They faced a gauntlet of tough opponents. Now, with the schedule softening a bit, continue progress towards this group becoming winners together.
Tomlin said it best this week: "It's important that we work our tails off to stack this victory, man, and move on in our journey."
THE ESSENTIALS
• Who: Steelers (4-7) vs. Falcons (5-7)
• What: Week 13, regular season
• When: Sunday, 1 p.m.
• Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
• Spread: Pittsburgh, -1.0
• Over/Under: 42.0
• Weather: Retractable roof stadium; outside showers 64°, 33% chance rain, 5 mph wind
• TV: CBS (national), KDKA-TV (local)
• Radio: 102.5 WDVE, ESPN Pittsburgh
• Streaming: Steelers Nation Radio
• Satellite: Sirius XM 385, online 826
• Boxscore: DKPS
• Team media guides: Steelers | Falcons
• Official game notes: Steelers | Falcons
THE INJURY REPORT
• Steelers: CB Ahkello Witherspoon (hamstring) is ruled OUT. RB Jaylen Warren (hamstring) and OLB T.J. Watt (ribs) are QUESTIONABLE. LB Malik Reed (back) was added to the injury report Saturday afternoon, and is considered QUESTIONABLE. WR Miles Boykin (oblique), RB Najee Harris (oblique), RB Benny Snell (knee), S Minkah Fitzpatrick (ribs), LB Robert Spillane (back), LB Myles Jack (knee), C Mason Cole (foot), DT Isaiahh Loudermilk (personal matter), DT Cam Heyward (vet rest) and DT Larry Ogunjobi (toe) are are cleared to play Sunday.
• Falcons: OLB Arnold Ebiketie (forearm), DL Jalen Dalton (toe) and OL Chuma Edoga (knee) are all QUESTIONABLE.
THE KEY VARIABLE
After the way the Colts gouged the Steelers for 225 yards on five kick returns, Tomlin was sure to call out the failure on special teams not only after the game, but again in his Tuesday press conference.
"Our kickoff coverage was not good," Tomlin said. "We were missing Miles Boykin and Robert Spillane, but boy, it’s unacceptable."
This week, the Steelers face Cordarrelle Patterson, who has the capability of doing far worse damage in the return game than the combination of Dallis Flowers and Isaiah Rodgers combining for 45.0 yards per kick return. While Boykin and Spillane are cleared to play Sunday, which will help with kick return coverage, Tomlin did not mince his words when talking up Patterson's ability and how he could hurt the Steelers in an area of the game that too often gets overlooked by casual fans.
Anybody who knows the game of football even a little bit understands how vital field position can be. That's one of the reasons Patterson topped Tomlin's list of Atlanta's threats.
"The field-position component of play, his resume, what he has been, man, needs no endorsement from me. It's just been nothing short of special," Tomlin said. "The things that he's able to do on offense as well. I remember going to his pro day over a decade ago, or a decade ago, and really just thinking what a special athlete he was. At that time Tennessee had used him a little bit on some tall sweeps and stuff exclusively out of the backfield. He had been a return man and, you know, some wide receiver screens and things of that nature. But to watch those talents evolve over the last decade and be the dynamic playmaker that he has been as a wide receiver, as a running back, as a starter capable runner, as a dynamic return man, I’ve just got a lot of respect for him. Boy, we’ve got to minimize his impact on the game, and that's no easy task."
No doubt, the Steelers put extra emphasis on cleaning up the kick return game. Falcons head coach Arthur Smith knows special teams coach Danny Smith well, and he doesn't expect the Steelers to put together back-to-back poor performances on special teams. In addition, from our conversation with Arthur Smith this week, the Falcons need to clean up some things of their own.
"Well, we have to block as well as Indy did. We didn't block very well in the return game last week. Washington really got after us. That's week to week. We had the big play against Chicago. Last week we had some return opportunities, and we didn't look too hot," Smith said. "But, I know this. I worked with Danny Smith, and I know he'll have those guys ready to roll. We have to make sure, if we do get the opportunity, that we block better than we did a week ago."
THE HISTORY LESSON
The Steelers have dominated the series history with the Falcons, carrying a 14-2-1 record against Atlanta into Sunday. Both losses have come on the road, but the 7-2 record (.778 win percentage) against the Falcons in Atlanta is the Steelers' second-highest regular season road win percentage against any opponent since 1966.
Pittsburgh's first matchup against the Falcons resulted in a 57-33 stomping on Dec. 18, 1966. From 1974 through 1999, the Steelers won nine straight matchups. Among those nine wins was the largest margin of victory on a Monday night in 1993. Barry Foster scored three rushing touchdowns, the defense forced six turnovers and scored a touchdown while Neil O'Donnell spread 19 completions to 10 different receivers en route to a 45-17 domination -- all on a night where the Falcons were listed as three-point favorites.
The nine-game winning streak came to an end in a classic game in 2002 at then-named Heinz Field. The Steelers blew a 34-17 lead in the fourth quarter as Michael Vick rallied the Falcons to tie the game with 42 seconds left in regulation. Neither team gained an advantage in overtime. But after James Farrior blocked a 56-yard field goal attempt by Jay Feely, the Steelers had one more chance to score with :01 left in the game.
Tommy Maddox heaved a pass from midfield down near the goal line, and somehow, Plaxico Burress came down with it and part of his body landed in the end zone. However, the ball never broke the plane, and the game ended with a 34-34 tie. Maddox threw for 473 yards in the game, which was a franchise record until Ben Roethlisberger broke it seven years later against the Packers.
The Falcons' second win against the Steelers came in 2006, and it was a game shaping up to be an offensive duel between Roethlisberger and Vick. With 238 yards and three touchdowns already, Roethlisberger was hit by three different defenders midway through the third quarter and did not return to the game. Charlie Batch played well in his stead, going 8 for 13 for 195 yards and two touchdowns, but the Falcons prevailed in overtime, 41-38.
The streak of overtime games continued into 2010. Only this time, the defenses were the dominant units. Neither team could muster more than three field goals apiece, as the Steelers and Falcons went into overtime with a 9-9 score. However, the Steelers prevailed as the first to break through when Rashard Mendenhall found open space and scored on a 50-yard touchdown run.
The last two games between the franchises have not needed overtime as the Steelers prevailed in both without much drama. Pittsburgh won the 2014 matchup, 27-20, as Roethlisberger threw for 360 yards and William Gay returned Matt Ryan's lone interception for a touchdown in the second quarter. The Steelers walked all over the Falcons, 41-17, in the most recent matchup in 2018.
THE MAIN MATCHUP
The Falcons boast four players with 300 or more rushing yards this season. They're the only team in the NFL that can brag about that.
Patterson won't just make an impact in the return game. He has also moved to running back in the Falcons' offense, and is essentially the team's lead runner. Patterson has racked up 506 yards and scored five touchdowns this season, despite missing four games due to injury. In addition, rookie Tyler Allgier leads the team with 552 yards rushing, quarterback Marcus Mariota has 421 rushing yards and rookie Caleb Huntley has 347 yard of his own.
The No. 1 threat the Steelers are zeroing in on is quite simple: Stop the run.
However, Atlanta finds different ways to hurt defenses on the ground. It's more complex than most running attacks, which makes this week a unique challenge. So, don't let the 5-7 record fool you.
"I think the No. 1 thing is you have to stop the main runs," Teryl Austin said Thursday. "The main runs, they do all the time. They're going to have some quarterback runs they do that they mix in or sprinkle in to keep you honest. The bottom line is that the main run game is the main run game. And you'd better defend that. They have a really good run game. They have that stretch where they're getting guys on the ground, they're cutting you and getting holes and seams. And the guys run hard. ... They're one-cut runners and they get vertical. That's the one you had better defend. You've got a plan for quarterback mobility. But you had better defend the main things first."
As it was Monday night against the Colts, it will be strength against strength. Atlanta certainly runs the ball well, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. But, the Steelers are considerably better against the run than they were a season ago when they ranked dead last in run defense. This year, the Steelers ranked sixth with 4.0 yards per carry against and rank seventh with 104.0 rushing yards allowed per game.
If the Steelers find a way to limit the Falcons' ability to run the football, it should set them up very well for success. Atlanta's passing attack doesn't pose much of a threat. The Falcons are the one of two teams in the NFL (Chicago) that have not produced at least 250 passing yards in a single game yet this season.
They've also attempted only 276 passes this season, and are second-to-last by throwing the ball on just 41.4 percent of their plays.
Everything must go into stopping the run. Typically, one of the best ways to do that is for the offense to jump out to an early lead and make the opposition one-dimensional, much like the Steelers did against the Colts. Unlike Indianapolis, Atlanta won't abandon the run. This will be a 60-minute battle of stopping the run, regardless of what the Steelers do on offense.
"They have a way of playing that makes them successful," Heyward said. "They have a lot of QB runs, as well. Cordarrelle Patterson does a great job out of the backfield. It's their style of play. They feel like if they stay on track and keep running it, it will bring them back in the game. It's going to be a four-quarter battle."
10 DATA POINTS
• The Falcons are 4-2 at home and 1-5 on the road this year. However, they have lost three of their last four games.
• In the four games the Steelers have won this season, they've scored first.
• The Steelers took advantage of the Colts' tendency to fumble the ball. They'll have another chance to do so as the Falcons have lost eight fumbles this season, the fourth-most in the NFL.
• Since the Steelers had their bye week, they are plus-10 in point differential.
• Despite their dangerous running game, the Falcons' offense produces 315.3 yards per game. That ranks 27th in the NFL.
• The Ravens are the only winning team remaining on both the Steelers' and Falcons' remaining schedule.
• Atlanta is allowing 7.0 yards per passing play, which is 28th in the NFL. May be a good time to try and stretch the field a bit more.
• However, the Steelers' running game is going strong, and Atlanta gave up 176 rushing yards last week in a losing effort to the Commanders. Run the football.
• Atlanta's opponents have scored on 44.3 percent of their drives, the highest rate in the NFL.
• The Steelers produce 3.4 sacks per game with Watt in the lineup, but just 1.5 when he is sidelined.
THE FANTASY CORNER
Last week was the best I've had this year, and it earned some nice gas station money. But, I'm not about to get cocky. Just looking to keep it going. Here's my lineup for Week 13 (with a $50,000 salary cap on DraftKings):
• QB: Mike White, Jets ($5,400)
• RB1: Nick Chubb, Browns ($8,000)
• RB2: Joe Mixon, Bengals ($7,100)
• WR1: Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals ($7,900)
• WR2: Garrett Wilson, Jets ($5,300)
• WR3: George Pickens, Steelers ($5,100)
• TE: Foster Moreau, Raiders ($3,600)
• FLEX: Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders ($5,300)
• DEF/ST: Rams ($2,300)
White had a breakout game as the Jets' starting quarterback, and they're facing a Vikings team that doesn't do well at limiting quarterbacks in fantasy football. I'm loading with with Chubb and Mixon as both are excellent fantasy producers and have favorable matchups.
Chase should do well against a Chiefs defense that allows the most fantasy points per week to receivers. I almost picked Wilson as my flex last week, and he went off. I'm riding the hot hand. Pickens has now turned in three straight double-digit performances, and he has a favorable matchup against Atlanta's secondary.
Moreau continues to produce while remaining a great value pick at $3,600. Robinson will have a bit of a test against the Giants, but his volume is increasing and he's coming off a very productive week. The Rams' defense had the best matchup of the money left over.
