Win or lose, the Steelers’ game against the Cleveland Browns on Monday night will carry much significance.
A victory against the Browns (7-8) keeps alive whatever possibility might exist of them making the postseason for the second year in a row.
But, even a loss, which will end any chance at a playoff spot, will carry more significance for an entirely different reason.
In all likelihood, it will be Ben Roethlisberger’s final game at Heinz Field, the place where he won two AFC championship games and 92 of his 164 career regular-season victories.
And he gets to do it against the team he has posted the most victories (25) and second-most passing yards (6,773) and touchdowns (42) in his 18-year career.
No decision has been made publicly – not by Roethlisberger, not by the Steelers – but Roethlisberger’s contract expires after this season and he is not expected to be re-signed.
Of course, there is always the remote possibility the Steelers could still win the AFC North title and play host to a wild-card playoff game. But that doesn’t appear to be on the radar of anyone who has watched the team’s performance for the past six weeks.
Coach Mike Tomlin, who has stayed away from discussing Roethlisberger’s future, was asked at his Tuesday press conference how the situation with his star quarterback could impact the game.
“I don’t know that it will impact anything relative to what we intend to do and what he intends to do,” Tomlin said. “Ben has really done a good job of setting the pace throughout the season. He’s been singularly focused on the next challenge and it’s been easy to follow his lead in that regard.”
Browns DE Garrett a ‘game-wrecker’
Tomlin referred to Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, who is tied for third in the league with 15 sacks and is fourth with 28 quarterback hits, as a “game-wrecker.”
That being the case, the Steelers need to do a better job with play-calls and formations that often found rookie left tackle Dan Moore Jr. trying to block Garrett one-on-one in the first meeting.
“We’re highly aware of it; we’re aware when he’s in the game and when he’s not,” Tomlin said. “When you play a 65-70-75-snap game, someone is going to have to block him one-on-one from time to time. Who better to do it than your left tackle? I’m not running away from that. Dan Moore isn’t, either.”
Tomlin cited a play last week against the Baltimore Ravens when Garrett beat former Steelers left tackle Al Villanueva, had a strip-sack on quarterback Tyler Huntley and recovered the fumble for a 15-yard touchdown.
“We can’t allow this guy to wreck the game,” Tomlin said. “When this guy does that, the climate inside the stadium changes.”
Speaking of play-calling, Tomlin was asked if he is satisfied with offensive coordinator Matt Canada’s play-calling in light of the offense’s recent anemic performance.
“I have no reservations about the play-calling component this year and what he's done,” he said.
On Klemm’s departure
The Steelers were not surprised when offensive line coach Adrian Klemm told them he was leaving to accept a more expanded position with better pay at the University of Oregon. After all, they gave permission to the school to interview Klemm, who had a year remaining on his contract.
With that came the understanding Klemm would finish the season with the Steelers, even though it was more beneficial for Oregon to have him join the staff immediately to help with recruiting.
But that all changed Monday when Tomlin decided to let Klemm leave immediately and have assistant offensive line coach Chris Morgan handle the duties for the final two games. Tomlin said Morgan will be a candidate for the top position after the season.
“The landscape that is coaching is changing each and every year,” Tomlin said. “We see it -- decisions are being made earlier in the processes. Colleges, the processes, are happening faster, people are making hires and so forth. The financial component in our business is making college football much more competitive. So, we're all getting faced with challenges that we really weren't faced with in the past.”
