‘Got My Ass Kicked In A Lot Of Ways’: Tomlin Only Focused On This Year Amid TNF Struggles
Fresh off a hard-fought win over the Cleveland Browns, the Pittsburgh Steelers have to turn around on a short week and prepare for another AFC North battle, this time on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Though the Bengals are reeling and are relying on the recently acquired 40-year-old Joe Flacco to keep them afloat, they might have an advantage against the Steelers this week.
That’s due, in large part, to the lack of success the Steelers have had not only on Thursday Night Football but on the road as well under head coach Mike Tomlin.
The Steelers are 2-9 on the road on Thursday Night Football since Tomlin became their head coach in 2007. They’ve lost their last four games on the road on TNF, too. So, with an opportunity to extend their AFC North lead even further Thursday night, they don’t have history on their side.
Not that Tomlin wanted to hear that Monday during his weekly press conference.
“I’m only concerned about 2025. I got my ass kicked in a lot of ways over the last 19 years,” Tomlin said when asked about the Steelers’ road struggles on TNF, according to video via the Steelers’ YouTube page.
That’s the right mindset to have, especially with it being a largely new team in the Black and Gold, too.
If this Thursday Night Football game was in Pittsburgh, it would be understandable to feel good about the Steelers, since they’re 7-2 under Tomlin at home on Thursdays. But on the road, on a short week and against a familiar opponent in the Bengals with a veteran QB who has seen the Steelers time and time again, it makes things more challenging.
But it’s a new week, a new year and a bunch of new players for the Steelers, ones who are experienced and have been around the block a time or two. Maybe with that added experience and professionalism, the Steelers can shed the struggles and find a way to win a road game on a short week.
History simply isn’t on their side though. The Steelers have lost their last four Thursday Night Football matchups, including last season to the Cleveland Browns on the road in a snowstorm. Prior to that 24-19 loss, they lost Thursday night games to the Browns in 2022 and 2019 and to the Minnesota Vikings in 2021 on the road.
The Steelers’ last Thursday night win came in 2016 against the Indianapolis Colts on Thanksgiving. So, it’s been awhile.
They have a chance to change that this week, and extend their division lead in the process.
Jaylen Brown makes bold claim on Boston Celtics roster: ‘We got enough’
The Celtics have muted expectations for the first time in years as most outsiders don’t have them aiming for another championship. That’s partly due to roster turnover and partly due to Jayson Tatum’s injured Achilles. And through the early portions of preseason, the Celtics are building a new identity with a new team.
But Jaylen Brown doesn’t necessarily view it that way. The Celtics still have talent on their roster starting with Brown, the four-time All-Star. So, after C’s practice Monday, Brown had a bold statement at least when it comes to their roster.
“We just gotta stay the course,” Brown said. “We got enough. We’re looking at other teams — we feel like we’re just as talented or we could beat them. The most important thing is not hanging your head after some mistakes or hanging your head after a loss. We just gotta move forward.”
It remains to be seen how the Celtics mesh together, though the main guys have played well in their preseason games thus far. Part of that is how the C’s haven’t gone up against an opposing team’s main guys. But still, the results have been solid. Brown also pointed out that guys fighting for roster spots often play more-physical defense, which isn’t always the case playing against starters in the preseason.
Regardless, Brown will have a crucial impact on this team. With Tatum sidelined, Brown will be consistently at the top of the opposing scouting report. He’s already accomplished plenty in this league, including being named the 2024 NBA Finals MVP for his work on both ends of the court. He also doesn’t look like he’s slowed down at all by the offseason knee surgery he had months ago at this point.
In many ways, it’s also a new role for Brown with this roster. The Celtics no longer employ longtime veterans who know the cadence of the 82-game season. No, they have hungry, young guys who are looking to prove they’re rotation-caliber NBA players. That’s also where Brown can help be a leader.
“I come to work every day trying to share my experiences, my basketball knowledge,” Brown said. “And also thinking about how I can bring the most out of everybody around me and my teammates. How to make them better as well as trying to perform at my highest level. It’s a balance. I have the tools to do it. I think I’ve been in enough roles throughout my years to have a good feel for everything. I’m embracing it; I’m enjoying it.”
