By: Jessica Costello
SteelerNation.com
Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans was probably the Pittsburgh Steelers biggest test this season thus far.
With what looked like the game 'in the bag' going into the second half, the Titans came back and just missed a chance at OT when Stephen Gostkowski missed a 45-yard field goal.
"We talked about it all week," said Coach Mike Tomlin. "We knew they wouldn't flinch. They have been in these types of games more than we have. To be quite honest with you, we knew that that was a winning edge for them, and it showed. We had something to do with how the game got as well. We gave up a big play for a touchdown. We turned the ball over. You do those things against good people they're going to get back in the game 100% of the time."Thankfully our guys didn't blink and were able to hold it together and make enough plays to secure a victory. Not a perfect product. We understand that. But I appreciate their efforts. We are perfect from a record standpoint and so we respect that."
The Steelers were also able to stop Titans' running back, Derrick Henry to only 8 carries for 27 yards in the first, picking up in the second half, finishing with 20 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown.
"We talked about the importance of minimizing him," said Tomlin. "And from that standpoint, it was similar, but we didn't do anything that we don't normally do. We played the defenses that we normally play. We just got to defeat blocks and make tackles and try to prevent him from falling forward. A tall task with a guy like him and particularly as we talked about from an attrition standpoint over the course of the game and you felt that. You felt him getting going, and that was troublesome. But that's just the attributes that he brings. and they bring to play, so that's why it was important that we got started early."
The Steelers have yet another important divisional test coming up against the Baltimore Ravens.
"We realize that we've got AFC North ball on next week on the road," said Tomlin. "We're going to a group that has seven days advantage on us, so there's a lot for us to be urgent about. We won't spend a lot of time celebrating this or appreciating this because it's just more work that lies ahead, but we like that element of the journey and we're excited about assessing what's transpired, hopefully making necessary improvements and positioning ourselves for next week's challenge."
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