After three resounding wins at home, Steelers players are dealing with the sting of a disappointing loss to the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium, but they can't let the pain linger for long.
"We have to watch the film, learn from our mistakes and put this game behind us and move on to the next game," said fullback Will Johnson on Monday. "From here on all of these games are crucial. It's important that we all stay together, watch this film, be real critical of our mistakes, get back on the field and start preparing for the next game. There are a lot of veterans on this team that will keep us going. We will be all right."
hat next game is on Monday night against the 2-7 Tennessee Titans on the road, and after losing to a then 1-8 Jets team, rebounding this week is crucial.
"The ability is there, it's just about going out and doing it," said defensive end Cam Heyward. "We have to have our focus and mindset on the Titans this week. We can't forget what happened, but we have to move past it. We have to move in the right direction and clean up the stuff that put us in trouble this past week.
"It all depends on how we respond, how we approach this week and not make this loss define us. It starts with practice, with our preparation, and with the Tennessee Titans. If we can do that we can go out and accomplish our goals."
One thing the Steelers will need to clean up this week is the turnovers, coming out of Sunday's game minus four in the turnover ratio with two interceptions and two fumbles.
"It doesn't matter how good of a team you are, if you turn the ball over it's tough to win, especially on the road," said Johnson. "We have to do a better job of that, creating turnovers ourselves. It's a team game. We can't put the defense out on a short field like we did this weekend."
Running back Le'Veon Bell, who managed just 36 yards on 11 carries and eight receptions for 33 yards, also pointed to turnovers as being something the team needs to address.
"We hurt ourselves with penalties and turnovers," said Bell. "We turned the ball over and we had a lot of penalties. We played sloppy. You play sloppy against anybody you're going to lose the game. You can't be minus four in the turnover battle. That's losing football.
"We just have to get better. We have to go back to the drawing board, watch the film and see what we did wrong. We have the Titans next week and we're going to worry about them."
Around the Locker Room:
Ramon Foster on the loss to the Jets: "It's one of those things we are going to look at it and slap ourselves in the head because there was so much left out there."
Check out the highlight photos from the Steelers vs New York Jets game.
Lance Moore on moving forward after loss to Jets: "It's not any different than after a win. No game is going to be perfect, you try to do what you can to correct the mistakes and make sure they don't happen again. We will learn from this and move on from it."
Antonio Brown on his fumbles: "I was moving a little fast. I have to secure the ball. I have to play better."
Le'Veon Bell on limited carries the past two weeks: "I just go out there and do what I can with the opportunities given to me. I have been used a lot in the passing game, so I guess that substitutes the carries. I still get the touches. Last game we were playing catch up so we couldn't run the ball as much."
Ramon Foster on the tight AFC North race: "All of the teams are better. They have raised their players in the way you are supposed to develop talent, from Cleveland on up. I think it's going to be this way for years to come. I think this division right now is showing we are one of the best in the league."