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SPORTS Wednesday 23 december 2020

What now? Slumping Steelers searching for answers

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike James Conner out be-
Tomlin, to borrow a phrase, cause of a quadriceps in-
trusts the process. So does jury, Snell ran for 84 yards
Ben Roethlisberger and on 18 carries, the most by
everyone else on the Pitts- a running back since Con-
burgh Steelers. ner rolled up 89 yards in a
Yet trusting the reeling AFC victory over Jacksonville on
North leaders will get things Nov. 22.
turned around following a WHAT'S NOT
third straight loss — this one The defense, thanks in large
a 27-17 clunker in Cincinna- part to attrition, is not what
ti on Monday night in which it was a month ago. Injuries
the Steelers (11-3) never led to inside linebackers Devin
against a team that hadn't Bush and Robert Spillane
won since before Election and Vince Williams’ trip
Day — and actually doing to the reserve/COVID-19
it are two different matters list put the majority of the
entirely. workload on the shoulders
A week ago, Roethlisberg- of recently acquired Av-
er channeled his inner Aar- ery Williamson and Marcus
on Rodgers and said in so Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger warms up before an NFL football game against Allen, a converted safety.
many words that everyone the Cincinnati Bengals, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, in Cincinnati. The Bengals did something
needed to just relax. Tomlin Associated Press few teams have done
pointed to having a normal against the Steelers this
practice schedule for the We've got to have better care much about the fran- entirely. season: they ran it down
first time in a while would performance." chise's Super Bowl-laden WHAT'S WORKING Pittsburgh’s throat even
help the Steelers regain It's the "how" that's tricky. resume. Not much, though the run- though the Steelers knew
momentum. Roethlisberger admitted in The upset loss to Jackson- ning game did receive a Cincinnati was going to run
Not so much. Not after the aftermath on Monday ville in the 2017 playoffs. bit of a jolt by the play of the ball. That doesn’t bode
three first-half turnovers. night that like most play- A 2-4 stretch to close 2018 Benny Snell Jr. With starter well going forward.q
Not after the banged-up ers in December, he's not that cost them a postsea-
Bengals and third-string 100%. For years the Steelers son berth.
quarterback Ryan Finley have been careful about An 0-3 finish last season to
mashed Pittsburgh's de- Roethlisberger's participa- thwart an unlikely playoff
pleted defensive front tion during the week. He berth that Roethlisberger
seven in the fourth quarter. typically doesn't practice watched from afar while
Not after the worst first-half on Wednesdays to avoid rehabbing his surgically re-
performance (statistically) unnecessary wear and paired right elbow.
of Roethlisberger's Hall of tear. Tomlin stressed "there are
Fame-worthy career. "I'm not opposed to chang- enough challenges here
Now the division title that ing it if the circumstances in 2020 to be concerned
looked like a lock at the dictate it," Tomlin said. about" to delve too deep-
start of December feels The circumstances coming ly into what the team's is-
considerably more tenu- off a game in which Roeth- sues have been down the
ous. The Steelers finish the lisberger completed just 20 stretch over the past few
regular season with a visit of 38 passes for 170 yards seasons.
from surging Indianapo- with a touchdown and a That's true, but time is run-
lis (10-4) on Sunday then pick would seem to dictate ning out quickly for the
head to Cleveland to face nothing should be off the Steelers to recapture the
the Browns (10-4) in what table. "I'm a firm believer calm competence they
could be a showdown for that things won't change showed while racing to an
one of the top four seeds in just because we think they 11-0 start that feels like a
the AFC. will," defensive end Cam- distant memory.
While stressing whatev- eron Heyward said. "We don't need to run
er has transpired on the He's not wrong. In the big away from the kitchen, we
field over the past month picture "The Steeler Way" need to run into it," Tomlin
isn't good enough, Tomlin has worked far more often said.
added Tuesday that "there than not over the past five How long Pittsburgh can re-
won't be sweeping chang- decades. Yet the recent main in it once it gets there,
es to what we're doing. ... history doesn't seem to however, is another matter