HR 2:Fireside Friday – Wild Card Round

Steelers defensive captain TJ Watt and former Raven turned Steelers Patrick Queen spoke passionately yesterday on the Steelers need to break their postseason losing streak. The playoffs are here so every matchup here on out counts.

The Steelers controlled their own destiny the first time the faced the Ravens in 2024, the second time they were in the middle of the end-of-season free fall. Now they have a shot as big road underdogs to flip the script back in Pittsburgh's favor by taking down Lamar Jackson.

Lamar Jackson only has two playoff wins under his belt in his seven-year career, so what will happen if he loses again this time around in the Wild Card round hosting the Steelers. Meanwhile, Russell Wilson's legacy has already been written as a Super Bowl winner, however how much left will there to be said about him if he loses his fifth game in a row which could end his time as a legitimate starting NFL quarterback.

Minkah Fitzpatrick had an interception in the last game against Baltimore and Cam Heyward is having arguably the best season of his career, but we're begging TJ Watt to remind everyone that he is a former DPOY and make his impact felt against the Ravens this week. Tom and Jacob power rank all fourteen teams who are in the 2025 NFL Playoffs.

The Steelers were looking to have some momentum entering the post season and turn things around after losing to three elite NFL teams, but came up just short against the Bengals and now Pittsburgh opens as a nine-point underdog on the road against the Ravens in the AFC Wild Card.

Cam Heyward and company managed to hold Joe Burrow to only 19 points so there is reason to believe the defense is capable of keeping the Steelers competitive against the Ravens in the first round of the playoffs. There was plenty of football madness yesterday as the regular season came to an end, and the day ended with Detroit running away from Minnesota to earn the franchise's first ever NFC #1 overall seed.

The Steelers offense has its easiest defensive matchup since the last time they faced the Bengals when Russ and Co scored 44 points. Joe Burrow is on his revenge tour and pursuing a fifth win in a row to make it to the playoffs and the Steelers defense need to tighten up after three poor performances in their last three losses. Tom and Jacob pick their Big Balllaaas for the Steelers final matchup against the Bengals

We're in the final week of the season and both conferences have most of their playoff seeds up for grabs. There isn't a game with bigger stakes and more playoff seeding implication than the Lions taking on the Vikings in a battle for the NFC North crown and the NFC #1 overall seed. Tom and Jacob share who they got in the Triple Play, and they pick a winner for Steelers/Bengals.