With division title in sight, team only worried about what it can control
PITTSBURGH 鈥� At 6-5 and tied with the Ravens for first place in the AFC North, the Steelers aren鈥檛 paying attention to what鈥檚 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 鈥� a game that could very well decide the division 鈥� the Steelers won鈥檛 be bird-watching.
鈥淲ho do they play? Sorry,鈥� guard David DeCastro responded when asked about his thoughts on Baltimore鈥檚 remaining schedule. 鈥溾�ou look at it and it鈥檚 one of those things where we know it鈥檚 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鈥檚 in our control to an extent.鈥�
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鈥檙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鈥檝e been considerably better at home this season, and will play three of their five remaining games at Heinz Field.
鈥淟ike I said before, at the point of the season we can still be 11-5,鈥� guard Ramon Foster said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what we鈥檙e shooting for right now. Right now, we鈥檝e got the Giants and we鈥檒l just deal with them accordingly. It鈥檚 a home game and we鈥檝e got a couple left so we鈥檝e just got to win at home. That鈥檚 got to be our biggest issue.鈥�
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 鈥� which wasn鈥檛 often 鈥� or practiced, that his ailing shoulder would act up. 鈥淚t was lingering way too long,鈥� 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. 鈥淚 think it was a good decision by the team and the coaching staff,鈥� Wheaton said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just frustrating on my part. I want to be out there and playing with my team.鈥� Wheaton says he鈥檒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鈥檚 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. 鈥淚 want to stay here,鈥� Wheaton said. 鈥淭hat would be my first choice. Obviously, it鈥檚 business. We鈥檒l see how it goes.鈥�
Sean Davis鈥� 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. 鈥淐oach (Tomlin) rewarded me putting me out there,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淚鈥檝e got to continue to do what I鈥檓 doing, put my head down, stay humble and continue to work.鈥� 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鈥檛 be easy. 鈥淚t鈥檚 hard because, in my opinion, it鈥檚 two completely different positions,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to study. You鈥檙e watching the same film but from two different aspects. I鈥檓 not running away from it, but it鈥檚 hard.鈥�
In addition to Davis, rookies Artie Burns and Javon Hargrave have large roles within the Steelers defense that they weren鈥檛 holding at the beginning of the season. The trio of draft picks 鈥� the top three 2016 Draft picks 鈥� have held their own and are playing with more assuredness. 鈥淲e鈥檙e extremely confident in those guys,鈥� OLB Arthur Moats said. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e grown a lot especially since OTAs and training camp. When you get this late into the season, they鈥檙e not rookies anymore.鈥� 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. 鈥�(My confidence) is getting bigger every week,鈥� Burns said. 鈥淭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鈥檓 saying, it just keep getting more confidence.鈥�
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鈥� post game injury report after the Colts game, but confirmed they participated in practice Monday.
QUOTEWORTHY
鈥漈hey鈥檙e playing superb. Those guys don鈥檛 get enough credit for the things that they do.鈥� 鈥� Le鈥橵eon Bell, on the play of the Steelers鈥� offensive line.