Pittsburgh Review

The Pittsburgh Steelers face a challenging schedule as they prepare for a Thursday night game against the Cleveland Browns, following their recent victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Head coach Mike Tomlin addressed the media shortly after their 18-16 win at Acrisure Stadium, highlighting the quick turnaround required to focus on their upcoming divisional matchup.

Tomlin noted that Mondays are usually reserved for reviewing past games, but this week demanded immediate attention to the Browns. "To be completely transparent, I have not watched a snap of it on a short week," Tomlin said regarding the Ravens' game. He emphasized the need to prioritize preparation for Cleveland.

Both teams share similar circumstances, with Cleveland hosting and Pittsburgh traveling per league rules. This necessitates condensed practice sessions, prompting Tomlin to consider player well-being. "I think one of the things and key variables that you weigh is, how do you best position the group to perform and compete?" he stated.

Historically, Pittsburgh has dominated their series against Cleveland since 1999, yet recent years have seen more competitive encounters. The Steelers have struggled in road games against the Browns in recent seasons.

Tomlin expressed concern about consecutive divisional games within a short timeframe: "When you have back-to-back division games...that has our attention and urgency from a lot of perspectives." He stressed strategic decision-making under limited physical preparation conditions.

In other news, placekicker Chris Boswell achieved a milestone by making six field goals in a single game for the third time in his career. Boswell's performance was lauded by Tomlin: "He's been everything that we need him to be."

Boswell's consistency comes despite changes in personnel, such as using wide receiver Scotty Miller as a holder due to punter Cameron Johnston's injury earlier this season. Tomlin praised both Boswell and current holder Corliss Waitman for their contributions.

Regarding injuries, linebacker Alex Highsmith is likely to miss Thursday's game due to an ankle sprain sustained during Sunday's match. However, defensive tackle Keeanu Benton's knee issue appears minor. Tight end MyCole Pruitt may return after missing last week's game with a knee injury. Cornerback Cory Trice could also rejoin after being on the Reserve/Injured List with a hamstring injury.

"We opened the window for Cory last week," Tomlin said about Trice's potential activation.