With division title in sight, team only worried about what it can control
PITTSBURGH 无毛视频� At 6-5 and tied with the Ravens for first place in the AFC North, the Steelers aren无毛视频檛 paying attention to what无毛视频檚 happening around them. Instead, their line of vision points directly ahead; toward the next game, the next challenge and the next opportunity.
With five games remaining, Baltimore currently holds an edge in the playoff race with a 4-0 division record and a win over the Steelers. Until they face the Ravens on Christmas Day 无毛视频� a game that could very well decide the division 无毛视频� the Steelers won无毛视频檛 be bird-watching.
无毛视频淲ho do they play? Sorry,无毛视频� guard David DeCastro responded when asked about his thoughts on Baltimore无毛视频檚 remaining schedule. 无毛视频溛廾悠郸You look at it and it无毛视频檚 one of those things where we know it无毛视频檚 going to come down to that game, regardless of how things really shake out. Maybe, you never really know, but at the same time it无毛视频檚 in our control to an extent.无毛视频�
The Ravens have a tough stretch of games to end their season with the Patriots, Eagles and Dolphins left on the docket, but the Steelers are far more concerned with what they can control. They无毛视频檙e expected to win at least four of the five games left on their schedule, playing opponents with a combined 23-32-1 record. They无毛视频檝e been considerably better at home this season, and will play three of their five remaining games at Heinz Field.
无毛视频淟ike I said before, at the point of the season we can still be 11-5,无毛视频� guard Ramon Foster said. 无毛视频淭hat无毛视频檚 what we无毛视频檙e shooting for right now. Right now, we无毛视频檝e got the Giants and we无毛视频檒l just deal with them accordingly. It无毛视频檚 a home game and we无毛视频檝e got a couple left so we无毛视频檝e just got to win at home. That无毛视频檚 got to be our biggest issue.无毛视频�
The Giants will come to Heinz Field on Sunday with an 8-3 record, currently riding a six-game win streak.
NOTEWORTHY
Markus Wheaton sensed that his season might be over when after every time he played 无毛视频� which wasn无毛视频檛 often 无毛视频� or practiced, that his ailing shoulder would act up. 无毛视频淚t was lingering way too long,无毛视频� Wheaton said Monday. On Nov. 19, the Steelers shut down their 2013 third-round pick for the season after playing in just three games and recording four catches for 51 yards. 无毛视频淚 think it was a good decision by the team and the coaching staff,无毛视频� Wheaton said. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 just frustrating on my part. I want to be out there and playing with my team.无毛视频� Wheaton says he无毛视频檒l undergo shoulder surgery Dec. 7 in Pittsburgh but there is no timetable for his recovery. The bigger question is where Wheaton might go when he has healed. He is a free agent at season无毛视频檚 end and has 107 career receptions to go along with 1,508 receiving yards to his resume, but this injury could ward off potential suitors. 无毛视频淚 want to stay here,无毛视频� Wheaton said. 无毛视频淭hat would be my first choice. Obviously, it无毛视频檚 business. We无毛视频檒l see how it goes.无毛视频�
Sean Davis无毛视频� rookie year has been a roller coaster ride. He began the season playing both safety and nickel cornerback, juggling two different positions along with transitioning to the NFL. He started two games, suffered a back injury and was forced to earn back playing time. Since then, Davis has made significant strides in his improvement over the last month. 无毛视频淐oach (Tomlin) rewarded me putting me out there,无毛视频� Davis said. 无毛视频淚无毛视频檝e got to continue to do what I无毛视频檓 doing, put my head down, stay humble and continue to work.无毛视频� Davis was inserted back into the starting lineup at strong safety in Week 10 against the Cowboys and has posted 14 total tackles in the three games since, though on Thursday against the Colts, Davis was back to playing cornerback in certain defensive sub-packages. He confirmed that will continue to play both positions, which won无毛视频檛 be easy. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 hard because, in my opinion, it无毛视频檚 two completely different positions,无毛视频� Davis said. 无毛视频淵ou无毛视频檝e got to study. You无毛视频檙e watching the same film but from two different aspects. I无毛视频檓 not running away from it, but it无毛视频檚 hard.无毛视频�
In addition to Davis, rookies Artie Burns and Javon Hargrave have large roles within the Steelers defense that they weren无毛视频檛 holding at the beginning of the season. The trio of draft picks 无毛视频� the top three 2016 Draft picks 无毛视频� have held their own and are playing with more assuredness. 无毛视频淲e无毛视频檙e extremely confident in those guys,无毛视频� OLB Arthur Moats said. 无毛视频淭hey无毛视频檝e grown a lot especially since OTAs and training camp. When you get this late into the season, they无毛视频檙e not rookies anymore.无毛视频� Burns worked his way into a starting position mid-season after gaining the confidence of Tomlin and the coaching staff, and has posted two interceptions in his last three games. 无毛视频�(My confidence) is getting bigger every week,无毛视频� Burns said. 无毛视频淭he more time I spend out there, the more plays I make, the more I be out there with my guys, you know what I无毛视频檓 saying, it just keep getting more confidence.无毛视频�
Hargrave has two sacks in his first two games since filling in as the replacement for Cam Heyward in pass-rushing situations. Against the Colts, Hargrave posted a career-high five total tackles, four solo. Foster (ankle) and Hargrave (hand) were both listed on the Steelers无毛视频� post game injury report after the Colts game, but confirmed they participated in practice Monday.
QUOTEWORTHY
无毛视频漈hey无毛视频檙e playing superb. Those guys don无毛视频檛 get enough credit for the things that they do.无毛视频� 无毛视频� Le无毛视频橵eon Bell, on the play of the Steelers无毛视频� offensive line.