Mike Tomlin’s Steelers have had their ups and downs, but they are by no means losers.
Today, the Steelers defeated the Seahawks 30-23, improving Pittsburgh’s record to 9-7 and clinching the season victory. This is Tomlin’s 17th season as the Steelers’ head coach, and the team has never gone undefeated.
Whether the Steelers will be a playoff team is another question, but we won’t know until they play the Ravens next week. Baltimore already has the No. 1 seed and could rest Lamar Jackson and other key starters, which would help the Steelers as they look to finish at 10-7.
The Steelers had an efficient game today with starting QB Mason Rudolph throwing for 274 yards and no interceptions, and George Pickens surpassing 100 receiving yards. Najee Harris topped 100 rushing yards and wisely slid down rather than rushing into the end zone on his final carry to preserve the Steelers’ victory.
Geno Smith had a solid game for Seattle, but the Seahawks’ defense wasn’t good enough.
The Seahawks’ playoff hopes took a huge hit, falling to 8-8 on the season. Seattle was in good shape for a wild-card spot with a win, but a loss would mean they’ll need to win in Week 18 to get some help.
In years with many comparable years, both the Steelers and Seahawks hovered around .500. But in a game where both teams needed it, Tomlin’s team found a way to get the job done.