PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are headed to the playoffs. It just doesn’t really feel like – or…
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers are headed to the playoffs. It just doesn’t quite feel – or look – like it does heading into their regular season finale against Cincinnati on Saturday evening.
A three-game losing streak against the league’s elite will.
But rather than dwelling on what’s wrong, quarterback Russell Wilson has another suggestion: practice a little selective amnesia.
“You have to be able to enjoy the moment and be so addicted to the moment that nothing else gets in the way,” Wilson said. “They’re focused on the next practice, the next meeting. And that level of obsession, that level of concentration, that level of communication, that level of response, that’s it. And that’s what champions do.
That’s part of the problem for the Steelers (10-6), who let a lot of things get in their way during a slide that likely cost them an AFC North title shot, namely unusual mental lapses by a defense that made a proud, star-studded unit vulnerable.
On that front, the Bengals (8-8) can figure it out. Joe BurrowJa’Marr Chase and company look just as dangerous as expected in August. Yet a horrible defensive first half forced Cincinnati to play catch-up in December. And for all of Burrow’s brilliance, the Bengals have to beat the Steelers and then hope Denver and Miami lose on Sunday to reach the playoffs.
That’s why Burrow sort of shrugged his shoulders when asked about the “MVP!” » chants that rang out in the final minutes of a thrilling overtime victory against Denver last week that kept Cincinnati’s slim playoff hopes alive.
Yes, it was cool. And yes, he thinks he’ll have a chance to one day win the league’s most coveted award, but not this year. For what?
“Usually you have to win your division,” he said.
This is an opportunity the Bengals have long lost. The Steelers appeared firmly in control of the North after back-to-back wins over Cincinnati and Cleveland in early December, only to follow up with three nationally televised falls.
Now their priority has shifted from winning the franchise’s first division title since 2020 to playing like a playoff team heading into the playoffs. The clock is ticking.
“We don’t have time to run from adversity, we have time to move through it,” Wilson said. “We have to climb the wall. We have to go through it. There is no magic pill to get around this problem.
Chasing records
Burrow heads into the final playing perhaps the best football of his five-year career. His streak of eight consecutive games with at least 250 passing yards and three touchdowns is an NFL record. He also leads the league in completions (423), passing yards (4,641) and touchdown passes (42).
Although Burrow thinks reaching 5,000 yards “would be cool,” he’s more determined to take advantage of Chase’s burgeoning greatness. The fourth-year professional is fighting for the Triple Crown. Chase leads the league in catches, yards and touchdowns. The last player to do so was Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams in 2021.
“He’s struggling to do it,” Burrow said of his college teammate at LSU. “He’s a once-in-a-lifetime player and our careers will always be intertwined, from college to the professional landscape. It’s just fun to be a part of it.
Communication breakdown
The Steelers are allowing over 400 yards per game during their losing streak, and their frustration has spilled into public view.
Safety DeShon Elliott criticized the unit for making the kind of lineup errors that might be understandable in September, but not in December. Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith wondered if any of his teammates had the “desire” required to go deep in the playoffs.
Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick believes anxiety is a natural byproduct of having a room full of competition. The same goes for defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, who prefers his unit to get angry.
“That tells me they want to do it right, and they’re not happy with how it’s going,” Austin said. “We have good men in our building. They’ve been through a lot together, and rightfully so, a little frustrated, but out of that frustration I think we can find some prosperity.
Late season push
Cincinnati’s 30-24 overtime win over Denver was significant, considering seven of its eight losses this season came by one score. Before December, the Bengals were capable of blowing leads late. The Bengals also won their fourth straight game for the first time this season. And for the first time, they beat a team with a winning record. Their previous seven wins came against teams below .500.
Last Stand?
The finale could be the last game at Acrisure Stadium for Steelers running back Najee Harris. The club declined Harris’ fifth-year option last spring, making him the only player in franchise history to surpass 1,000 rushing yards in his first four seasons with the team could be elsewhere when the 2025 season begins.
The rise of Jaylen Warren may have played a role in the decision, and although Harris had another productive slump, Warren has been the more effective option as of late. Warren has 33 touches for 202 yards over the last two games, compared to Harris’ 24 touches for 123 yards.
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AP Sports Writer Mitch Stacy in Cincinnati contributed to this report.
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