The Pittsburgh Steelers had an eye-opening loss in Week 14 to the two-win New England Patriots, which was their second loss in a row to a two-win team as they struggled against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13 as well. It was the first time Pittsburgh lost back-to-back games in 2023, and they will be fighting to get back on the right track in an important game against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15. Following the loss, star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick made headlines by calling out the players in the locker room.
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Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has been asked to wear many hats this season, and his versatility has been key for the defense's success late in games.
Steelers' Mike Tomlin Speaks On Fitzpatrick's Comments
Fitzpatrick called out some players for not having the proper mentality as they enter some games, and expecting victories to just be handed to them, rather than having to fight for it. He implied the entire locker room needs a reality check and a serious change in their mentality. His comments made headlines, with some former NFL players taking issue with his remarks and saying a player should never call out others in the locker room. Head Coach Mike Tomlin addressed these comments on Monday during his press conference and spoke about the meaning behind Fitzpatrick's words.
"You know, he was probably talking about smiling in the face of adversity. These are going to be tough, tough games and there’s going to be some adversity, there’s going to be some challenges, nothing is going to be given to us and we have to fight that, we’ve got to smile in the face of that. [Fitzpatrick is] a guy who does that and lives that life and I’m sure he’s just challenging others to do the same. We have to do a better job of that in an effort to change the outcome of games."
The lack of effort has been evident in the past two games the Steelers have played. They played down to their opponents, who are both vying for a top spot in the 2024 NFL Draft. Tomlin has received a lot of the blame for the lack of effort and the way the team has performed over the last two weeks, Fitzpatrick was simply coming out and stating that it is on the players to get themselves mentally ready to play a game in the NFL and fight for a win.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin looks on as he loses another home game to a 10 loss team.
Tomlin spoke about understanding Fitzpatrick's message, but also acknowledged how he is trying to motivate his players in a different way. The month of December is upon us football fans, and everyone knows these are the most important games of the season as the playoff picture starts to become more clear. Every week could decide your postseason fate, which is why these games are so crucial. Tomlin spoke about the importance of playing well during this time of year and playing with more urgency.
"I’m not necessarily looking for positive messages in an effort to build them up, I’m probably taking the opposite approach and talking about how urgent these weeks and opportunities and games are because the road is getting narrow. That’s a phrase we like to use and we’re moving into the month of December now. That’s just acknowledging truth."
Tomlin knows that the Steelers' season is on the line, and they need to do their best to win their last four games of the season which will not be easy. They play the Colts in Week 15, who are also fighting for a playoff spot in the AFC. They then have a divisional battle with the Cincinnati Bengals, which will be the last home game of the year, and the Bengals are also hoping to make the postseason despite losing quarterback Joe Burrow last month.
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Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
The Steelers will then finish the regular season off with a Week 17 game against the Seattle Seahawks and a Week 18 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. Seattle is looking to claim one of the Wild Card spots in the NFC, so the Steelers' next three games will be hard fought. In Week 18 in Baltimore, the Ravens will likely be in a spot where they could rest a solid amount of starters if they decide to. This could benefit the Steelers as it will likely be a win they need if they want to see themselves in the playoffs.
What do you think about Tomlin's comments on Fitzpatrick or Tomlin's message to the team as they approach this four-game stretch? Let us know in the comments below!
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