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Joe Haden intercepts a fourth quarter pass by Tom Brady. Credit: CP Photo: Jared Wickerham

For the first time all season, the Pittsburgh Steelers elected not to do individual player introductions against the New England Patriots.

Typically the starters from either the offense or defense will be announced one at a time and make their way through the fog and the fancy lights while pumping up themselves and the crowd before kickoff. And I was ready. On my stomach, waiting for some dramatic images. But nothing happened. I can only speculate but I’m going to assume that this type of pregame hype wasn’t warranted against a team that was 2-11 all-time against Tom Brady coming into today’s game. Perhaps they felt as if both sides of the ball equally needed to contribute to this game in order for them to come out of it with a win.

But win they did. 17-10. And they did it without starting running back, James Conner who remains injured. Rookie backup, Jaylen Samuels, finished the game with 19 carries and 142 yards.

We’ll see if head coach Mike Tomlin keeps with the winning tradition for the last home regular season game of the season, Dec. 30 against the Cincinnati Bengals. The team has one more hurdle in their way, the New Orleans Saints, on Dec. 23.