PITTSBURGH — As the playoffs loom, Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers are intentionally steering clear of discussions about their recent shortcomings. The Steelers concluded their regular season with a disappointing four-game losing streak, losing to the Cincinnati Bengals 19-17 on Saturday night despite a valiant fourth-quarter effort.
Wilson emphasized the need to shift focus, stating, “I think the best thing we can do is get ready for the playoffs. It’s a new season. That’s the only thing that really matters anymore at this point.” Their playoff berth was secured weeks before, making the Steelers the third team in NFL history to enter the playoffs while riding a four-game losing streak.
Linebacker T.J. Watt echoed Wilson’s sentiments, expressing the necessity for improvement. “We need to play winning football and we’re not doing that right now,” he said. “We need to wipe the slate clean. We’re in the tournament now, and we need to play better football.”
The Steelers relinquished their hold on the AFC North title and now find themselves in a position where they require the Las Vegas Raiders to secure a victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. This outcome is crucial to avoid facing their arch-rival, the Baltimore Ravens, who are the champions of the AFC North, in the playoffs’ opening round. Should the Chargers triumph, Pittsburgh’s first playoff matchup will be against the Houston Texans.
“Obviously, us winning would’ve helped us in some form or fashion,” Wilson reflected. “But at the end of the day, when you go into the playoffs, everybody’s 0-0, and you have to beat everybody anyway. It has been a tough few weeks, and that has to be our focus right now.”
In December, the Steelers’ defense faced challenges, conceding over 400 yards per game during their losing streak’s first three contests. Against the Bengals, they allowed 314 total yards. On the other hand, Pittsburgh managed only 193 yards, much of which came as they desperately tried to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter. Wilson struggled throughout the game, completing just one pass in the third quarter, while Cincinnati controlled the ball for 16 minutes longer than Pittsburgh. He concluded the game with a stat line of 17 completions on 31 attempts for 148 yards and connected with Pat Freiermuth for a touchdown in the final quarter.
