With the Steelers riding a three-game losing streak heading into the Saturday night matchup with the Bengals, coach Mike Tomlin said it’s important for his team to have momentum heading into the playoffs, Joe Rutter of the Pittburgh Tribune-Review reports.

“We have to get the stench of the last few performances off of us,” Tomlin said Monday at his weekly news conference. “There’s no better way to do that than with a home divisional win over a formidable group heading into the tournament.”

The losses to Philadelphia, Baltimore and Kansas City not only have sent the Steelers reeling into the final week of the season, they no longer occupy first place in the AFC North. They ceded that position to the 11-5 Baltimore Ravens, who can clinch the division title with a home victory against the 3-13 Cleveland Browns. That game will be played in the Saturday afternoon window.

An unexpected loss by the Ravens will pave the way for the Steelers to win the division — and get a home playoff game with the No. 3 seed — if they can stop the Bengals. Cincinnati (8-8) has won four in row since dropping a 44-38 decision to the Steelers on Dec. 1. A win by the Bengals also would keep them in the hunt for the AFC’s final wild-card spot.

“They are a motivated group trying to play their way into this tournament, but we’re a motivated group, to be quite honest with you,” Tomlin said.

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/theredzoneorg 
     
Don't forget to follow us on Bluesky at https://theredzone.bsky.social

Like us on Facebook at http://facebook.com/Theredzone.org