Mike Tomlin Isn’t Here for Excuses - Especially Not from the Ravens
After a gritty AFC North clash that saw the Steelers edge out the Ravens 27-22 in Week 14, the noise coming out of Baltimore wasn’t just about missed opportunities - it was about one play. One controversial call. One moment that’s now being dissected from every angle: the Isaiah Likely non-catch in the end zone.
But if you ask Mike Tomlin? He’s already moved on.
The Steelers’ head coach, never one to dwell on officiating drama, made it clear during his weekly press conference that he’s not losing sleep over what the Ravens are upset about - and he doesn’t think they should be either.
“You know, it's always been debatable, it seems like,” Tomlin said. “I've just learned to kind of move on, to be quite honest with you.
I moved on from Jesse James, for example. I don't even know what year that was.
They're going to be controversial calls in big games.”
That Jesse James reference? Steelers fans know it all too well - the infamous overturned touchdown against the Patriots that still sparks debate years later.
Tomlin’s point is simple: bad breaks happen. But good teams don’t let one play define the outcome.
The Call That Sparked the Fire
Let’s be clear - according to the NFL rulebook, the officials got it right. Likely’s catch didn’t meet the league’s definition of a completed reception.
But that didn’t stop Ravens head coach John Harbaugh from pushing the issue, reportedly escalating it within the league. He wasn’t trying to reverse the result, but he clearly wanted answers.
Tomlin, though, doesn’t see the point.
“That's why you won't hear me calling New York postgame for explanations and things of that nature,” he said. “It's not gonna change the outcome.”
That wasn’t just a comment - it was a thinly veiled jab. Harbaugh’s name didn’t come up, but the message was loud and clear.
Tomlin isn’t interested in postgame politics. He’s interested in wins.
The Bigger Picture: Ravens Had Their Chances
Let’s zoom out. Yes, the Likely play was a big moment.
But it wasn’t the moment. The Ravens moved the ball well throughout the game.
They had multiple drives stall out, left points on the field, and simply didn’t capitalize when it mattered most. The Steelers made enough plays.
Baltimore didn’t.
That’s the part Tomlin wants to focus on - controlling the controllables.
“I just work to keep moving and I just like to put together a comprehensive enough plan and make enough plays where the game's outcome doesn't hinge on one play or a couple of plays,” he said.
That’s the mindset of a coach who’s been through the wars. The kind who knows that in the NFL, you don’t get to pick your breaks - you just have to be ready when they come, and resilient when they don’t.
The Catch Rule: Still a Moving Target
Now, if you’re wondering whether the NFL’s catch rule needs a rewrite - you’re not alone. It’s been a hot-button issue for years.
But don’t expect sweeping changes anytime soon. Tomlin himself sits on the league’s competition committee, and even he acknowledges how murky the rule can be.
Still, he’s not waiting around for clarity. He’s building teams that win in spite of it.
And that’s what Pittsburgh did on Sunday. They didn’t play a perfect game, but they played a winning one.
They made enough plays. They executed when it mattered.
And they walked out of that rivalry game with a crucial divisional win.
Bottom Line
The Ravens can keep talking about the call. They can file complaints, request explanations, and debate the rulebook. But none of it changes the scoreboard.
The Steelers won. The Ravens didn’t.
And Mike Tomlin? He’s already on to the next one.