The Pittsburgh Steelers achieved their longest winning streak of the 2023 NFL season, as they won three in a row to end the regular season. The Steelers regular season finale came in Baltimore, where they beat the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 17-10. The Steelers officially finish the regular season with a 5-1 record within the AFC North, with a sweep of both the Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals. Head Coach Mike Tomlin extended his streak of winning seasons to 17, which Najee Harris spoke about after the game while defending Tomlin from the people wanting him gone earlier in the season.
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Steelers' Najee Harris scores against the Baltimore Ravens in 2023
Steelers' Harris Defends Tomlin After Week 18 Win
The Steelers were able to get their 10th victory of the 2023 NFL season in Week 18; their most wins in a season since 2020 when they began the year 11-0. The Steelers clinched a 10-7 record despite dropping three in a row, starting in Week 13 when they lost to the Arizona Cardinals. The losing streak sparked a lot of conversation about Tomlin's future with the organization, with many suggesting he should be traded or fired. Tomlin answered with a season-ending, three-game winning streak, which Harris spoke about in his postgame press conference when he was asked how it felt to get to ten wins.
"Man, it's good. Since I've been in the league this is my first 10-win year I guess. Wish I could take back some games that we lost then we could have had a better record. But, to hit 10 wins, it's good for the team, not only that, but for Mike T. Just a good coach and you know, how he has been carrying us along this whole year. Him just showing how resilient and how calm he always be even when stuff looks bad. There's a lot of negative stuff being said. He always just stays the same person, and, so I'm happy for Mike T and the team."
The Steelers three-game losing streak in December really ignited a lot of fans into calling for change at the head coaching position for the Steelers. Losing to the two-win Cardinals and two-win New England Patriots at home was the last straw for many fans, and it became clear a lot of the fan base wanted Tomlin and the Steelers to part ways prior to the 2024 season.
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Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin looks on as the Steelers beat the Ravens 17-10 during the 2023 season
Players love playing for Tomlin, which is why he has a guy like Harris making sure to give him credit for the team's success while defending him against those who wanted him gone. Every player who has played under Tomlin has spoken highly of him, and some players have even signed with the Steelers in free agency because of a desire to play for the head coach.
Patrick Peterson is one of those players. He is in the later stages of his career and has been able to watch Tomlin from afar for a while, and he knew he wanted to play for Tomlin which is a big reason why he signed in Pittsburgh.
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Steelers' Patrick Peterson attempts a tackle against the Baltimore Ravens
Harris himself has always spoken highly of Tomlin, and Tomlin has done the same for Harris. Some Steelers insiders have even gone as far to say that Harris will have his fifth-year option picked up solely because of Tomlin's love for him. Tomlin sees Harris as a crucial part of the Steelers team, and it's hard not to share that vision after he picked up his third straight season of 1,000 rushing yards. Harris ended the 2023 regular season on an absolute tear, rushing for over 100 yards in each of the last two weeks after not having a 100-yard game at all earlier in the year.
Tomlin and Harris have got their team playing well to end the 2023 regular season as they close it out on a three-game winning streak. They have also clinched a spot in the postseason after missing the playoffs in 2022.
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