10 Thoughts: Defense shows improvement, but offense still searching

Jan 05, 2025 at 02:00 AM

Dale Lolley

Contributing Writer/Editor

At the end of the day, the Steelers lost their regular season finale to the Cincinnati Bengals at Accrisure Stadium, 19-17.

But a bounce here or there could have changed the outcome – something that's obvious in a game decided by two points.

As a stand-alone game by itself, while disappointing, it's a game the Steelers would obviously like to win on their home field.

When added to what has happened over the past month, it looks like more of the same, as the Steelers lost their fourth game in a row heading into the postseason.

"You look at these games, you know, it comes down to five or 10 plays," said Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward. "When we don't execute, you know, there is nobody to blame but ourselves."

That being said, this game did not play out exactly as the previous three games – losses to the Eagles, Ravens and Chiefs – had.

In those games, the Steelers had chances to win the game late, only to turn the ball over. And the defense struggled across the board, failing to get sacks, turnover and to get off the field in general.

However, in this game, the Steelers lost just one turnover, that coming on a fumbled punt return by Calvin Austin III.

The Steelers got two turnovers, recovering a fumble on a punt, as well, while also intercepting Joe Burrow once. The Steelers also sacked Burrow four times and hit him seven times, forcing two fumbles. They allowed 7.5 yards per catch over the course of the game.

Thing is, the ball was coming out so quickly to take advantage of Burrow's accuracy, that the Bengals wound up possessing the ball for 38 minutes in the game.

But after scoring a touchdown on their opening possession, the Bengals were forced to settle for field goals again and again, going 1 for 4 in the red zone as the Steelers adjusted to what Cincinnati was doing.

"They did. They did a good job," said Burrow, who wound up completing 37 of 49 passes for 277 yards with one touchdown and one interception. "That front is really good. So that was a game where you've got to catch it and get it out, get it to your guys and let them go make plays. Our execution in the red zone wasn't good enough. That's kind of the story of the game."

At least from a Cincinnati perspective.

The Bengals still need help to reach the postseason. But their offense has been performing at a high level over the course of the season. Burrow had a streak of eight consecutive games with three or more touchdown passes snapped in this game.

He still had yardage, but the communication issues that had plagued the secondary in the three previous losses were cleaned up.

"It was better," said safety DeShon Elliott. "But it definitely can still get better. Definitely better than previous weeks, but it's hard to go into the playoffs on a four-game losing streak."

That may be true, but seeing the defense stand up against an offense that's as good as any the Steelers will see in the postseason – at least in terms of throwing the ball – is a positive sign.

"There definitely were no big plays," said cornerback Corey Trice, who was tasked for much of the game with matching up one-on-one with Ja'Marr Chase while replacing an injured Donte Jackson in this game. "They kept dumping it down. A slant here, a slant there. Then maybe a go ball. Then maybe an in-breaking route. There wasn't a lot down the field. We've just got to get better there."

Cincinnati's longest play was just 19 yards. Chase had 10 receptions in the game, but they went for 96 yards.

The Steelers also tackled the catch well, again, something that had been an issue at times in recent weeks.

So while the Steelers didn't win the game, they did correct some of the issues that had been plaguing them – at least defensively.

"I'm confident," said Heyward. "I'm sorry, I don't have the energy behind this, but I'm very confident in the group. You know, as a professional you work your (butt) off to be ready week in and week out. You know, there is belief in the group that's all that matters."

• That might be the case defensively, but offensively, the Steelers once again got off to a slow start. They failed to score a touchdown on their opening possession again in this game, meaning they went the entire season without scoring a touchdown on their first possession.

Now, the Steelers did score six field goals on opening possessions this season. But overall, it has been a struggle. And it hasn't really mattered whether it was Russell Wilson or Justin Fields at quarterback.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin wasn't putting the offensive struggles on Wilson, who completed 17 of 31 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown.

At no time in this game did Tomlin think of going to Fields.

"Not really, no, because our failures were collective," Tomlin said. "I think at this juncture the most prudent thing for us to do was to stick with those that were on the field and work through it."

Part of the issue was that the Steelers just didn't have the ball long enough in the first half to get much going.

Cincinnati held the ball for nearly 20 minutes in the first half.

Wilson had just eight pass attempts in the first half, while the Steelers ran the ball 16 times but for just 48 yards, with 32 of those yards coming on the team's lone touchdown drive of the first half.

Outside of that, they were running into loaded boxes.

"That was our game plan kind of going into it, just trying to establish our physical nature," Wilson said. "The game kind of took a while for us to get going. Wasn't really until the fourth quarter. Our defense did a good job of keeping us in the game, making some plays."

When these two teams met Dec. 1 in Cincinnati, the Steelers came out attacking via the pass and rolled up a season-high 520 yards and 44 points in a victory.

Why they didn't stick with that approach is questionable. Yes, Cincinnati's defense has played better since that game.

"I'm not comparing it to the last outing," Tomlin said. "We formulated a plan we thought was appropriate for this environment and this game this week; didn't work out the way we would like."

But the Steelers also showed early in the fourth quarter when they finally went to a no-huddle offense down 19-7 that Wilson could pick this secondary apart if given the opportunity.

"It's definitely hard to get going when you're not out there and trying to get into a flow. The offense was definitely cold," said fullback/tight end Connor Heyward. "You have to give them a lot of credit. Joe Burrow is a really good quarterback. It's a great offense. When we get out there, we have to make the most of our opportunities instead of going three-and-out."

• The Bengals did do a better job of making sure they had the Steelers' running backs covered out of the backfield in this game.

In the first meeting, Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren and Cordarrelle Patterson combined to catch 13 passes on 13 targets for 146 yards. In this game, they were limited to four catches on six targets for 20 yards.

Now, tight end Pat Freiermuth was a factor, catching eight passes for 85 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets, but No. 1 receiver George Pickens was a complete non-factor.

Pickens caught his first pass, a bubble screen, on the Steelers' second offensive snap of the game, failing to gain a yard.

He was targeted five times after that, failing to haul in a single pass, including three that he had in his hands and failed to record the catch.

"We made plays in that one," Tomlin said of the difference between the two matchups with Cincinnati. "We didn't make routine plays in this one."

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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson (41) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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The offense huddles during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. (65) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier (54) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Williams (18) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers guard Mason McCormick (66) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen (6) and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Montravius Adams Sr. (57) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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The defense during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers guard Mason McCormick (66), Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier (54), Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo (73), and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. (65) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Fans during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Fans during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Arron Anastasia / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Preston Smith (91) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Arron Anastasia / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. (31) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen (6) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Fans during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Keeanu Benton (95) and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. (31) and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen (6) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. (31), Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen (6), Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee (23) and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Cory Trice Jr. (27) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton (20) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo (73) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Arron Anastasia / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig (51) and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (56) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Keeanu Benton (95) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Arron Anastasia / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier (54) and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Arron Anastasia / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Fans during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (56) and Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott (25) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson (11) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end/fullback Connor Heyward (83) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek (15), Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon (49), Pittsburgh Steelers tight end/fullback Connor Heyward (83), Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Tyler Matakevich (44) and Pittsburgh Steelers safety Miles Killebrew (28) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Fans during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Keeanu Benton (95) and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen (6) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek (15), Pittsburgh Steelers tight end/fullback Connor Heyward (83) and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig (51) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end/fullback Connor Heyward (83) and Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre (42) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell (9) and Pittsburgh Steelers punter Corliss Waitman (8) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end/fullback Connor Heyward (83), Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek (15) and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Tyler Matakevich (44) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Routine plays are called routine because you're expected to make them. Pickens has shown over the course of his young career that he can make the extraordinary play. In this one, he missed on some routine plays.

He wasn't alone. Van Jefferson allowed a third-down pass to be broken up because he didn't come back to the ball strongly as he perhaps could have done. The Steelers' final offensive play of the game on fourth–and-12 saw the ball glance off Freiermuth's hands. It would have been a good catch of a briskly-thrown ball on a cold night, but it's the kind of play the Steelers needed to win this game.

Still, it will be tough for the Steelers to win in the postseason without getting more than one catch for no yards from Pickens.

"I believe in George," Wilson said. "Listen, everything is not always perfect for everyone. This is an imperfect game. I believe in George. I believe in who he is, the player he is. He's been a star for us all season.

"He's going to be a difference-maker for us in the playoffs obviously, and I'm looking forward to that and what he can do, what we can do together.

"I'm not blinking on George. If anybody believes in him I definitely do."

• It's a shame the Steelers didn't get that one last play to give them a shot at a Chris Boswell field goal attempt – from whatever distance – for a potential game-winner.

Boswell has been so good this season, finishing 41 of 44 on field goal attempts, including adding his 13th field goal from beyond 50 yards this season, that there's no doubt Boswell would have nailed it.

The final pass play for the Steelers came from the Pittsburgh 40. Given how well Boswell has kicked this season, they realistically needed 20 yards to get into his range.

Had Freiermuth been able to hang onto Wilson's final throw, it would have been pretty close to what the Steelers needed.

• Cam Heyward was dealing with the flu, which he developed Friday morning.

Despite that, he batted down three passes at the line of scrimmage in this game, becoming the first defensive lineman since Cam Jordan in 2017 to have at least 10 pass defenses and 10 tackles for a loss in the game season.

Heyward leads all NFL defensive linemen with 11 pass defenses this season, but he had just one assisted tackle in this game, perhaps because of the issue with the flu.

The Bengals also were very cognizant of when Heyward was in or out of the game. When Heyward was out there, the Bengals didn't run the ball. When he was on the sideline, they did.

With Heyward ailing, veteran outside linebacker Preston Smith saw more snaps as an extra interior rusher in the nickel and dime defenses.

Smith had a sack in that utilization.

• Tough situation for Trice, who saw Chase, the NFL's leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns, on 32 of the Bengals' star's 50 pass routes.

"That's what I was expecting," said Trice of that matchup.

The Steelers' plan was similar to what they did in the first meeting against the Bengals, as Joey Porter Jr. matched up one-on-one against Tee Higgins.

They wanted to utilize their other corner – in this case Trice – against Chase with safety help to bracket the star receiver.

"I feel like I definitely got to get better," said Trice. "There are going to be some things I'm going to go to the film room and look at as far as technique. I did a pretty good job technique-wise, but I've got to start playing the ball more when the ball is in the air."

Jackson missed this game with a back issue that has been troubling him for the better part of a month.

The hope is to have him back for the opening week of the playoffs next week.

"We need to wipe the slate clean and get ready for playoff football," said outside linebacker T.J. Watt. "We'll get guys back, get as healthy as possible and get ready for next week."

• The turn of events at the end of the first half was a tough one.

The Steelers were three times told they had picked up a first down with less than one minute remaining, first one a catch by Freiermuth, then on a sneak by Wilson and finally on a fourth-down run by Warren.

In all three instances, a booth review overturned the calls on the field.

Instead, they turned the ball over on downs at their own 37, and Cincinnati kicked a 27-yard field goal to take a 13-7 lead into the locker room.

"I like to be aggressive in those moments," said Tomlin. "If you can't get a yard you don't deserve to win, and so obviously we didn't."

• The Steelers didn't win the time of possession in a quarter in this game until the fourth quarter.

They had the ball for less than four minutes in the first quarter. They held the ball for 6:45 in the second quarter. They had the ball for 3:59 in the third quarter.

And even in the final quarter, the Steelers' advantage in time of possession was just 7:50-7:10.

For most of this season, the Steelers have played complementary football. The offense possessed the ball and the defensive got it back for the offense.

Asking a defense, any defense, to play 38 minutes, is just too much.

And it's not like the Steelers defense wasn't winning on possession downs. The Bengals were just 5 of 13 on third downs and also failed on their only fourth-down attempt.

But the offense cannot average 3.3 yards per play as it did in this game if the Steelers are going to have any kind of success in the postseason.

Can't happen.

The offensive line needs to play better. The receivers need to play better. The quarterback needs to play better. The offensive coaches need to come up with a more dynamic plan, one that this unit is capable of executing.

For large portions of this season, that was happening.

"I thought our defense gave us a chance to win that game," Wilson said. "Good thing is in the fourth quarter we responded the right way. Felt like we had a chance. We had two drives to help try to win the game; unfortunately didn't get it done."

• There is no such thing as a must-win game in the NFL until it becomes an elimination game.

Fortunately for the Steelers, they clinched a playoff spot a month ago. So, none of the four losses they've suffered were elimination situations.

Certainly, they would have liked to have won each of those games.

But now, things get a lot different from here on out. The pressure on both teams gets ramped up because every game is an elimination game for both teams. That's seldom the case for regular season matchups.

Both teams face the same pressure.

"I think the best thing we can do is get ready for the playoffs. It's a new season," said Wilson. "That's the only thing that really matters anymore at this point, right? Obviously us winning that game would have helped us in some form or fashion, but at the end of the day you go into the playoffs you're 0-0 and you've got to beat everybody.

"That has to be our focus right now. It's been a tough few weeks. We thought we had a chance in this game. I love how the we fought. Defense made some great plays, special teams; offensively came back, had a huge drive to make it a one-score game."

And opportunities to win it at the end.

They just came up short in a non-must-win game against a team that was in a must-win situation.

The Bengals were in a completely different situation. They needed to win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

"This is one we had to have," said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor.

That now becomes the case for everyone.

• Dale Lolley is co-host of "SNR Drive" on Steelers Nation Radio. Subscribe to the podcast here: Apple Podcast | iHeart Podcast Pittonline@iheartmedia.com

• If the Chargers beat the Raiders in Las Vegas on Sunday, the Steelers will make a return trip to Baltimore in the opening round of the postseason.

The two teams split their meetings in the regular season, with the Steelers winning at Acrisure Stadium and the Ravens winning at M&T Bank Stadium.

But, as we once again saw Saturday, home field advantage really doesn't matter all that much in AFC North games. In fact, prior to their loss in Baltimore a couple of weeks ago, the Steelers had won their previous four road games against the Ravens.

They won't shy away from that matchup. Or any matchup.

"I think the big part is no matter where you are in the playoffs, the reality is when you step in the playoffs it's a new slate. You know, it's a new opportunity. That's just the truth. That's just the reality of what it is," said Wilson. "No matter how successful you've been in the regular season, how tough the last part has been for us, we have a choice to respond the right way. You know, I had a cool conversation this morning, earlier with Jerome Bettis, and talked to him about the 2005 football team. There were some you bumps and bruises and things that happened and some losses along the way. Just I think they went in as the sixth seed he was telling me.

"It was cool talking to The Bus about that because I wanted to get some perspective on how the team approached it. The reality was this week is the only week that matters. That team overcame a lot of obstacles. That team was able to respond the right way."

Can this team show a similar resilience? We'll find out soon enough.

"It will be hard, but we've got the guys in the locker room to get right and be better," said Elliott.

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