–The Steelers had their best defensive performance of the season Sunday despite being without two starters. Linebacker Vince Williams missed the Falcons game with a hamstring injury and safety Morgan Burnett missed with a groin injury.
Their replacements had terrific games. Linebacker L.J. Fort played for Williams on longer downs and distances and finished the game with six tackles, a sack and his first career touchdown when he recovered a fumble in the end zone. Rookie safety Terrell Edmunds had his best game of the season, especially in coverage against a talented Atlanta receiving corps that is among the best in the NFL.
“The journey sometimes is a learning process,” head coach Mike Tomlin said of Edmunds’ performance. “Sometimes, it’s on-the-job training. It’s on-the-job training, and you have to deliver a winning performance.”
–Tomlin was fined $25,000 for his postgame comments on the state of the officiating in the league. Tomlin called some of the penalties that are being called “a joke” and said the NFL has to do a better job in regards to its officiating.
On Tuesday, Tomlin refused to comment any more on the state of officiating in the league, but he was upset that the Steelers were twice flagged for roughing the passer against the Falcons. On one of the plays, Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt was called for hitting Matt Ryan low when in fact Watt barely touched the quarterback as he was going to the ground.
“I said what I said after the game. I meant it,” Tomlin said. “I’m choosing to move on and focus on this week’s challenge.”
–Tomlin gave kicker Chris Boswell another vote of confidence after he missed yet another extra point. Boswell has now missed three extra points this season as well as being just 3-for-6 on field-goal attempts.
Boswell missed a field goal in overtime against the Browns, a game that eventually ended in a tie. He also missed a field goal and an extra point in a five-point loss to the Chiefs.
“We have a lot of confidence in him,” Tomlin said. “This guy didn’t forget how to kick. This guy has delivered for us a lot. I don’t have amnesia in that regard. He’s gotten me out of that stadium a few times in Cincinnati. I’m looking forward to bringing him to Cincinnati this time.”
Boswell has twice kicked game-winning field goals in the final seconds at Paul Brown Stadium. He booted the game-winner in the 2015 AFC wild-card game as well as another in a 23-20 victory last December as time expired.
–The game against the Bengals could be the final one without running back Le’Veon Bell, who told ESPN two weeks ago that he would report during the Steelers’ off week. The Steelers have their off week after the Bengals game.
With James Conner doing well – he’s seventh in the NFL in rushing yards and has added 22 receptions out of the backfield – that could leave Steelers coaches in a predicament when it comes to touches for both.
“It’s a good thing I’m not the coach,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. “James has done some amazing things and deserves to be on the football field. We also know what Le’Veon is and what he brings to the table. I guess we’ll cross that bridge if and when it happens.”
BY THE NUMBERS: 18 – Consecutive games in which the Steelers have held the Bengals to 21 points or fewer. The Steelers will try to keep that streak intact against a Bengals team that is averaging 30.6 points per game in the first five weeks of the season.
