A new season: Quarterback Russell Wilson knows what happened the last 18 weeks of the football season matters.
But what he also understands is what happens in the upcoming week matters even more.
Wilson, like all of his teammates, are not happy with how the season ended with four straight losses.
He isn't trying to avoid that disappointment, the things that got them there.
What he is trying to do, though, is look forward, because as an experienced veteran on the team who has won a Super Bowl championship, he knows how important looking forward is.
"I think what I'm going to say is I don't really want to talk about the past just because I think we have been in that for a little bit here," said Wilson. "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. 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 we fought. Defense made some great plays, special teams. Offensively came back, had a huge drive to make it a one-score game.
"Got the ball back. We had the chance to win it. That's what playoff football will be like. It's going to be intense, come down to the wire. It's going to be ups and downs. It's going to be tough environments and everything else."
The Steelers don't know who they will play yet in the postseason, but the one thing they do know is it will be on the road. Potential opponents could be the Houston Texans or Baltimore Ravens, and either way Wilson knows it will be a challenge.
"We're going to have to go on the road and get it done," said Wilson. "That's really the only thing that matters right now is us being able to adjust and think about that and be prepared for that.
"Really, it's a one-and-done type mentality. You've got to go get it and find a way to win the next game."
After losing the last four games against three teams that are in the postseason in the Eagles, Ravens and Chiefs, and the Bengals who are still in the hunt, there are some outside of the Steelers walls that might not have the confidence the team can get it done.
Wilson, and everyone inside the Steelers walls, have the confidence that is needed.
"I feel like everybody we've played, we have had a chance in those games," said Wilson. "Even going back to Philadelphia. It's really where it kind of went negative a little bit and didn't get all our stuff done that we needed to. Had some moments in that game. Good football team. Obviously, the Ravens are a good football team. We battled back and forth with those guys.
"We feel like if we just do right and look forward to the next moment, that's got to be the only thing that matters and the thing we answer to.
"And then I think most importantly is we got to have amnesia going into this and just win the next play. Just win the next play, win the next game. We've got to have the best week we can possibly have this week."
Wilson knows as they prepare for the AFC Wild Card Round, they have to do it with a fresh start, because that's exactly what it is.
"The reality is when you step in the playoffs it's a new slate," said Wilson. "It's a new opportunity. That's just the truth. That's just the reality of what it is."
Not enough routine plays: The Steelers didn't finish the regular season the way they were hoping, losing to the Cincinnati Bengals, 19-17, in the regular season finale.
"We certainly had our opportunities to win the game, but we didn't," said Coach Mike Tomlin. "We've got to own that. Not enough routine plays made. Routine things routinely is a signature of high-floor football.
"I thought particularly on the offensive side we didn't do enough routine things well to move the ball with fluidity, to possess it, to score, and so the game was touch and go because of that.
"Obviously that sequence at the end of the first half, missed an opportunity there to maybe get some points and bookend the half. I thought that was significant."
Tomlin was referencing the end of the first half when the offense was unable to convert on fourth-and-one, turning the ball over on downs with 48 seconds to play and the Bengals were able to add a field goal to go into the half up, 13-7.
Tomlin said the decision to go for it on fourth down was based on multiple factors.
"We had timeouts; they had timeouts," said Tomlin. "Didn't want to give the ball back to them. I like to be aggressive in those moments. If you can't get a yard you don't deserve to win, and so obviously we didn't."
While it is disappointing to lose the final regular season game, the energy and focus has to switch to the postseason.
"It's disappointing, because we play and play to win," said Tomlin of the loss. "But it's neither here nor there. We are in a single-elimination tournament now, so we better turn our attention toward playing good football and better than we have particularly in recent weeks."
Tomlin said the key right now is to not focus on the past, but learn from it and move forward.
"You better learn from these lessons," said Tomlin. "We're a mentally tough group. It's okay to learn from these lessons and remember the things that created this.
"Nothing mystical about it. That's going to be my mentality and I'm going to relate that to the guys as we move into next week."
Preaching confidence: Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward had three batted passes in the Steelers loss to the Bengals on Saturday night, while dealing with what he classified as the 'flu' all day.
Heyward is hoping that gets out of his system fast, as it's now time to turn the page on the regular season and focus on what is ahead.
The playoffs.
The Steelers don't know yet who they will play in the AFC Wild Card Round, but they know they will play, and Heyward has faith the team will turn things around.
"I'm confident," said Heyward. "I'm very confident in the group. As a professional you work your (butt) off to be ready week in and week out. There is belief in the group, that's all that matters."
Heyward is the first to admit the Steelers didn't finish out the regular season the way they had hoped, losing the last four games.
But he has faith in what this team can do in postseason play.
"You just have to take it one game at a time," said Heyward. "The good thing is, Coach (Dick) LeBeau always told me this, we're in the dance. We're playing with house money. Nobody is going to make it easy for us, but I like us versus anybody.
"You can say I'm blowing smoke, but I do. And I like the group. It's about ironing out our mistakes and cleaning it up yesterday."
Heyward knows the defense can perform much better than they have over the past four weeks, something they proved earlier in the season when they were dominating, especially in turnover margin.
That is one of the things he wants to see them get back to.
"We have to keep harping turnovers," said Heyward. "We've got to get back to three-and-outs. I think we didn't get a three-and-out until late in the game.
"We've got to be complementary, offense, defense, special teams. That's where we thrive.
"Slate is clean. They don't remember your record once you get to the playoffs."
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