Steelers' Mike Tomlin Not Alarmed By Short Week "Give Us A Date, A Time, A Location, And We'll Be There"

The Pittsburgh Steelers learned while travelling back to the Steel City from the Pacific Northwest after an emotional 30-23 win against the Seattle Seahawks, that they would be playing on a short week. The league announced late on New Year's Eve that the team would be visiting the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, January 6 to play their final game of the 2023 regular season. Head Coach Mike Tomlin didn't seem too phased by the announcement, however. 

Due to the short week, Tomlin held a press conference on New Year's Day to brief the media on his thoughts on his team's efforts to get a victory in Seattle for the first time since Chuck Noll used a one-two punch of Franco Harris and Frank Pollard to run over the Seahawks for a 26-14 win in October of 1983.

"We have no reaction," Tomlin said in regards to being sprung with another short week. "Give us a date, a time, a location, and we'll be there. That's what we do. It's insignificant."

Tomlin in his 17th season in the league said there was a certain amount of anticipation that this could happen. He added that because of his experience, he was not at all surprised by it. 

The Steelers have dealt with a few short week situations this season. After a tough 20-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars where quarterback Kenny Pickett went down with an injury just before halftime, the team had a quick turnaround and beat the visiting Tennessee Titans, 20-16. 

The team had their roughest patch of the season losing three games in 13 days between Week 13 and 15. After dropping a 24-10 decision to the Arizona Cardinals, who only had two wins entering the contest on a Sunday in Week 13, the team had a quick turnaround with the also then two-win New England Patriots visiting on Thursday night of Week 14. They lost 21-18 and then followed it up with another loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday in the late afternoon window in Week 15. 

Mason Rudolph has come in to steady the ship after the season tailspin from December 3 to December 16. He's looked poised in wins over the Seahawks and Cincinnati Bengals. The coaching staff has trusted the veteran to be aggressive and it's rewarded them. 

Steelers' Tomlin Not Worried About Short Week 

Despite the appearance of struggles dealing with short weeks this season, Tomlin just sees it as a natural challenge of the NFL. The Steelers are dealing with some injuries to Minkah Fitzpatrick, Elandon Roberts, and Trenton Thompson that might've been helped with an extra day, but that is far from Tomlin's mind as he prepares his squad for a crucial final game of the 2023 season. 

The head coach said it will be a little bit of a challenge for the coaching staff in a strategy standpoint early in the week, but he doesn't anticipate it affecting the players being ready for a physical showdown with the Ravens. 

"We're familiar with them," he said. "When they first started playing Thursday night games, it was oftentimes the second time you played a divisional opponent because of that strategy component of the familiarity from a plan perspective is more fluid. So, that's our mindset and my mindset regarding this. It's a short week, but it's a highly familiar opponent."

He added that it's a bit of challenge for the coaches to work on the short week, but said that should have no effect on how the players play on Saturday. While some might think it's a bit of an advantage to be able to play Saturday and not have to scoreboard watch while the team is playing, Tomlin was firm in his answer that they do not care. 

Do you think the Steelers are getting screwed with another short week? What do think of Tomlin's mentality when it comes to the quick turnaround? Comment below! 

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