The Pittsburgh Steelers are battling an opponent as difficult as the New England Patriots —- the flu.
ESPN reports that as many as 15 Steelers have been hit with a 24-hour flu bug. Four players missed practice Wednesday and tight end Ladarius Green missed Thursday.
Coach Mike Tomlin doesn't see the bug as a problem.
"We're not making excuses," he said. "There won't be. We'll be there, we'll be ready to play, this is just part of normal things that happen over the course of a season.
Pittsburgh meets the Patriots Sunday in the AFC Championship game with a scheduled 6:40 p.m. kickoff. The winner plays in the Super Bowl against the winner of the Atlanta Falcons-Green Bay Packers game. The NFC championship game kicks off at 3:05 p.m. Sunday.