Najee Harris knew the physicality required for this game. Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens matchups are always extra rough-and-tumble. He also knew combating the weather would be a huge factor in their approach to leaving M&T Bank Stadium with a win.
It did, and they did on their way to the first 10-win season of Harris’s career. But it’s not without a hint of regret.
“I wish we could take back some games that we lost and had a better record,” Harris said in a postgame press conference.
Harris credits Mike Tomlin for helping lead them there. “To hit 10 wins is good for the team — not only that but for Mike T. How he’s been carrying us along this whole year, I think it really shows. With all the negative stuff that’s been said, he always stays the same person.”
As all teams do, Pittsburgh faced its share of adversity this season but live — for the moment — to tell about it.
“The main thing for us to do was to get the win so we can get into the playoffs.”
The Steelers did an about-face after a three-game skid, winning three straight games to close out the regular season. They did their part. Now, all that’s left to do is wait and see what comes of Buffalo Bills-Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans-Jacksonville Jaguars tomorrow. Pittsburgh needs a Dolphins victory or the Titans to win or tie.
Harris won’t be watching, though. He has more pressing matters to tend to. “I’m gonna watch film on this game,” he said when asked for his plans for the Sunday lineup. “If we’re in, we’re in. Watch film on whoever we’re playing next.”
Should the Steelers advance to the Wild Card round, Harris believes the team doesn’t lack the confidence to keep pushing.
“We always have confidence. It’s just execution. We always know who we could be. Sometimes it works that way, sometimes, it doesn’t. We’ve just gotta find a way to keep this going.”
Najee Harris on the win over the Ravens. pic.twitter.com/ClIjzcjgOk
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 7, 2024
