Mike Tomlin

They've got a really good secondary.

Petrie, their safety slash nickel is very versatile, and he displays that versatility on the back end in safety circumstances and also in his ability to cover and blitz as a nickel.

They've got a real good linebacker tandem, man, that's highly active and productive defensively.

They minimize big plays.

I was just looking at their statistical profile.

They're top five in most statistical categories, points.

I think they're number one in yards per game.

They're in the top five in rush defense and pass defense, scoring, yards.

And so certainly they've been top tier and elite in just about all areas all year with that group.

That group sets the pace for them.

They play with great energy and emotion.

They play well as a collective.

They have an appetite for rising up in moments.

It just seems like every week you're seeing game-changing and game-deciding plays from their defense in terms of closing close ballgames out.

They make the necessary plays in waiting moments, really in all three phases.

I think about a

A third and 14, I think, versus Jacksonville, where Davis Mills scrambles into the corner of the end zone to give them a late win at home versus those guys, for example.

But you don't get in this tournament unless you had your moments.

You certainly don't win nine straight unless you have continuity.

And complimentary play, they're good in all three phases.