The Pittsburgh Steelers can't forget the elephant in the room...and that's okay.
In an interview with The MMQB's Greg Bishop, Steelers safety Mike Mitchell said, "We're going to play the Patriots again. We can play them in hell, we can play them in Haiti, we can play them in New England. ... We're gonna win."
Many yinzers have admonished Mike Mitchell for his comments, suggesting that the Steelers safety is taking his eye off the ball. These must be the same people who ripped Mike Tomlin for addressing the "elephant in the room" prior to the Steelers November 26 game against the Green Bay Packers. The elephant of course being the hated New England Patriots.
Did the Steelers take their collective eyes off of the ball when they beat the Packers, Bengals, and Ravens leading up to their match-up with New England? No. If anything, it helped galvanize the club.
Why should this time be any different? Mike Tomlin candidly expressed confidence when he spoke to Tony Dungy, and Mike Mitchell did the same when speaking with Greg Bishop.
It's not a lack of focus, it's a surplus of confidence. It's swagger. Swagger that will be on display against the Jags, and yeah, next week against the Patriots.
Steelers 24, Jaguars 13...See you in Haiti.