Mike Tomlin

But it's just more than just stopping the run on specific downs per se.

It's a collective approach.

And

I thought we did a nice job of minimizing that mode of producing victory for them, not only with the way that we played the run, but with the way we ran the ball offensively, the way we possessed the ball offensively.

Us being aggressive on fourth down plays, particularly early on, was a strategic component of minimizing their run.

Us getting off on third down offensively,

was a major component defensively of us minimizing their run.

They weren't able to get a new set of downs very often and established a rhythm that it produced a 192 per game.

And certainly we thought if we could do that, we would position ourselves to maybe take the ball away.

Had a big takeaway early on from Samuel and certainly had other opportunities that didn't come to fruition throughout.

We needed to take care of the football, and we certainly did that.

It wasn't easy sledding there, particularly early, but as we found our rhythm and we were able to get some things going and produce some touchdowns.

As the road gets narrow, you've got to score touchdowns.

Field goals don't necessarily get you out of stadiums, particularly as you're battling for playoff position and people are in the same mentality doing similar things.

And so I thought our ability to score touchdowns in the red area was big, was a major component of it as well.

Can't say enough about the many contributions that we got from people who had an opportunity to have expanded roles.

As I often say though, there's a fine line between being a pro bowler and a backup in this business.

I just see it through that lens.

These guys are at the tip top of the food chain in terms of what they do.

And usually one man's misfortune is another man's opportunity.