The Pittsburgh Steelers will again be without their top big-play threat when they take part in the “AFC North Championship Game,” as coach Mike Tomlin has termed it.
The Steelers (9-7) host the Baltimore Ravens (8-8) on Sunday night with the division title on the line at Acrisure Stadium. The Steelers will advance to the playoffs with a win or tie, while a loss will finish their season.
The Steelers will be without wide receiver DK Metcalf as he will serve the second game of his two-game suspension imposed by the NFL for his altercation with a fan on Dec. 21 in the Steelers’ victory over the Lions at Ford Field in Detroit. Last week, the Steelers lost to the Cleveland Browns without Metcalf.
The Steelers did not score a touchdown and had just two explosive plays against the Browns. Connor Heyward had a 29-yard run, and Aaron Rodgers and Pat Freiermuth connected on a 29-yard pass.
In the Steelers’ 27-22 win over the Ravens on Dec. 7 in Baltimore, they had a season-high 284 yards passing. Since that game, the Ravens had been playing much more zone coverage than man-to-man. Tomlin says the Steelers will adjust.
“If they give us one-on-one playmaking opportunities, we've got to make those plays,” Tomlin said. “And we've got to put guys in a position to do so. We've got very capable men."
The Steelers were also without another starting wide receiver last week as Calvin Austin Jr. was sidelined by a hamstring injury. Tomlin is optimistic that Austin will be ready to play on Sunday.
None of the Steelers’ other receivers filled the void as Scotty Miller had three catches for 25 yards, Marquez Valdes-Scantling had three receptions for 21 yards, and Adam Thielen had two catches for 14 yards.
“Oftentimes, I say there's a fine line between being a Pro Bowler and a backup,” Tomlin said. “We're at the top of the food chain in terms of the football world, and so it's a reasonable expectation from my perspective, particularly with an additional week to prepare, that we put together a thoughtful plan and that we position our guys to take advantage of opportunities, and if and when they do present themselves that we make the plays.”