Mike Tomlin slept through ending of Chargers-Raiders game that sent Steelers to playoffs
Mike Tomlin wasn’t awake at the moment the Pittsburgh Steelers officially qualified for the AFC playoffs.
Tomlin didn’t see Las Vegas kicker Daniel Carlson’s 47-yard field goal as time expired in overtime Sunday night that lifted the Raiders to a 35-32 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The field goal avoided a tie — the only scenario in the final game of the NFL season that would have eliminated the Steelers from the postseason.
“I dozed off,” Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly press conference. “I knew I had a work day waiting on me — or assumed I had a work day waiting for me.”
The Chargers rallied from a 15-point deficit to tie the score on the final play of regulation.
Carlson’s kick, which came after the teams traded field goals earlier in overtime, gave the Raiders the No. 5 seed and sent them a wild-card matchup this weekend at Cincinnati. A tie would have sent the Raiders to Kansas City. Instead, the No. 7 Steelers will face the second-seeded Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
“I know at one point (Las Vegas) was up by 15 and that number made you somewhat comfortable,” Tomlin said. “I’m probably better off not having watched it.”
The first time the Steelers traveled to Kansas City, they fell behind by 23 points at halftime and 30 points in the third quarter en route to a 36-10 loss on Dec. 26.
“They smashed us so definitively,” Tomlin said.
Tomlin expects the Steelers to be relatively healthy heading into the rematch. Defensive back Arthur Maulet is in concussion protocol, running back Najee Harris could be limited in practice early in the week because of an elbow injury, and inside linebacker Robert Spillane is dealing with a knee injury.
“I’m optimistic about all of those guys,” Tomlin said.
Wide receiver James Washington remains in covid protocol. Tomlin said left tackle Dan Moore Jr. (ankle) could return to practice this week. Center Kendrick Green (calf) also will return to practice after missing time last week while on the reserve/covid list. He praised the work of center J.C. Hassenauer in the past two weeks and didn’t rule out a third consecutive start for Hassenauer. Tomlin also lauded the play of Joe Haeg, who filled in for Moore on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.
“Wev’e got some really good options there,” Tomlin said.
Here is some of what else Tomlin had to say at his press conference:
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
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