Coach Mike Tomlin Postgame Press Conference (Week 11 vs Cincinnati Bengals) | Pittsburgh Steelers

Coach Mike Tomlin Postgame Press Conference (Week 11 vs Cincinnati Bengals) | Pittsburgh Steelers

appreciative of the efforts. I thought we certainly fought hard. We played hard. In some instances, we could have played smarter. Um, and so there’s individual and collective learning that needs to to happen uh in some of those instances, but that’s life. It’s good to learn uh with the win. It was a big AFC North win for us. Um Aaron’s obviously out with a wrist injury. Um it’ll be evaluated in the morning. I’ll give you guys more information there. Um, Keshan Williams had a concussion. He’s in the protocol. Jaylen Warren had an ankle. He I think he was able to return. Uh, the rest is bumps and bruises associated with play. Can’t say enough about the collective effort. It certainly wasn’t ideal. We got challenged in a lot of ways, but you’re going to get challenged in the National Football League on weekends. And it’s just good to get a get a win and get back on the right side of things coming off of a poor performance and obviously a loss the last time we saw these guys. And so it’s doubly satisfying from that perspective. Questions, Mike, was it Aaron’s right wrist? And what can you say about Mason and Kenny Gainwell making a big play? It was his It was his left wrist. Um and you know, Mason’s proven in the past uh what he showed today. Um that’s why we value him as a member of this collective and um appreciative of his play. Um and certainly Kenny Gwell made made play after play for us winning in the flat and so forth. Um but a lot of guys did. I thought our our tight end run after um with with moves and and Darnell in particular was was really good. You got to be able to throw short and run long sometimes. Uh win conversions in that fashion, flip fields in that fashion. And so it was a lot of guys that contributed to that. James become has has James Pierre grown throughout the year, not just in front of, you know, what we saw with our own eyes today. Um he’s grown throughout the years. Um yes. um he’s gotten better with each and every year he’s been here um with his roles and his ability to respond to opportunity and so forth. There’s a high there’s a veteran high level of consistency that we’re seeing right now. That’s why I talked about him the way I talked about him I think on Tuesday. Mike, what key to better defensive performance against Cincinnati this time? I’m sorry. What key today? What what was better today than uh we got stability at the safety position. Um, other than, you know, Jaylen not finishing the game, we got stability at the safety position. Mike, did you get any explanation on what happened with Jaylen Ramsey? What led to him popping off against Jamar Chase? I didn’t need any. It doesn’t matter. Um, we got to we got to be smarter. Um, we got to we got to stay in football games as individuals. Follow up to the safeties, Kyle Dug, can you talk about his effect on the defense, the interception that he made could be the changing point of the game? you know, he’s just a he’s a veteran player, man, that’s been there, done that guy. Uh that’s why we covered in him at the um at the trade deadline. Um he’s been an asset to us certainly um and increasingly so. I’m excited about moving forward with him as he continues to get solid in assignments, communication, and understanding. Was he ejected, Mike, or was did you take him? What’s that? Was he ejected? He was ejected. Okay. Because I never heard you he was ejected. Yes. I’m sorry. Uh Aaron’s injury designation was questionable. Could he have returned in the second half? I I don’t have the answer to that to be honest with you. Um I’ll have more information next time we talk. How did you think Rudolph did? How did you feel like Mason Rudolph? As I mentioned um he’s always delivered when called upon in the past. That’s why we value him. His performance was consistent with what he’s done in the past for us. And um not that we take it for granted. We don’t. We appreciate it. Did he return to the sideline or was he just stay in the locker room after his injury? Rogers. Again, I don’t know. My attention was on on the field and those that were on the field. Anything in the second half? Sorry. I’m sorry. Do you do anything in the second half to to kind of account for the fact that Mason hasn’t played? Do you make things a little bit more cautious or careful? No. Mason’s played a lot of football in this league. Um, we might lean to things that are more in his wheelhouse, but it wasn’t because of lack of play. Chase had a big day against you guys last time around. this this day, 10 targets, uh, three catches, 30 yards. He talked about how they they knew what you guys were going to do last time around. What did you change up this time that might have gotten in the way of him having a good day? I don’t know that we changed anything of any significance. I just thought we were more solid today to be honest with you. Coach, your thoughts on game, not just rushing, but also receiving as he le and I think he also made a tackle on kickoff, you know. Um, I value him as a football player first. Um, we saw a lot of that, man, on his Philadelphia tape. Um, he’s good in a lot of areas, including special teams, and so we just respect what he brings to the table. Did you see exactly how Aaron got hurt, what happened? I did not. You talked a lot about Mason thus far, but and this is not to compare him to Aaron in any way, but when you have a guy that’s familiar with your system, has experience as a Steeler as a coach, is there any little bit of calming effect when you know number two is going in with his background here? There’s no doubt. There’s no doubt. Anyone else? Mike, what do you say for the offense in general? I mean, you talk about having faith in the individual players, but having your starting quarterback and your starting running back on the sideline could cause a lot of other issues that didn’t seem to prop up for you. That’s that’s life in the big dance. Um, you’re going to be challenged in a lot of ways um as individuals, as collectives or collectives within the larger collective. Um, it’s our job to adapt and improvise and do what’s required to win. Did you say that your defensive front was was more effective against Flaco and in terms of pressuring him than out in Cincinnati? I just thought as a collective, whether it’s front, secondary, linebackers, I just think we were more solid. I think we’re more connected. I thought we communicated well. Um it’s not necessarily about what it is that they do. It’s about the quality of what we do. Um and I thought we were just above the line in so many of the intangible areas today that allowed us to play. What can be said about Darnell Washington’s performance today, especially that big run that he had for I think he voted over like three big It’s been highly consistent. Um we’re appreciative of him. We’re appreciative of Spencer Anderson. That’s why we introduced him with the starting lineup um to show respect to that. Were you able to talk with Aaron after his injury either off the field or at halftime? I was. Did he disclose anything? He was excited about the win. I just talked to him. Um but that’s all we talked about. We didn’t talk about his injury. We talked about the the significance of the win. Anyone else? How significant can you say this win is considering with where you guys are? It’s perspective. Um, you know, it feels good right now. Um, but it’s about what what happens moving forward. Um, and it always is. Um, that’s just the nature of this thing. Uh, it’s sweet today. Tomorrow we go back to work. It’s big business waiting on us next week. All right. Thanks, Mike. Thanks, guys. slave static court.

Coach Mike Tomlin speaks to the media about the Steelers matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11 of the 2025 season.

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