Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers News
Can Russell Wilson, Pat Freiermuth Stay Hot vs. Ravens’ Improved Secondary?
Steelers QB Russell Wilson and TE Pat Freiermuth are amid a three-game touchdown streak, but can they make it four against the Ravens?
PITTSBURGH – Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson and tight end Pat Freiermuth have been developing a special connection. The two have connected for a touchdown in each of the last three games.
They’ll look to stay hot against the Ravens this week, but Freiermuth doesn’t believe that will be easy against their much-improved secondary.
“They’re limiting a lot of explosive plays,” Freiermuth said. “Earlier in the year, they were giving up a lot of explosive plays, but I think them moving Kyle (Hamilton) back to safety full time and Marlon (Humphrey) to nickel, have done a really good job of keeping a lid on it and bleeding slow. So we need to heighten our focus and sustain drives to stay on the field.”
Freiermuth may be on a three-game tear, during which he’s reeled in 12 catches for 138 yards to go along with his three scores, but his worst game of the season came against the Ravens.
In Week 11, Baltimore held Freiermuth to a season-low two catches for 14 yards.
That’s not going to influence Wilson to look away from Freiermuth now, though, especially with the status of wide receiver George Pickens very much up in the air.
Wilson supported that idea when he raved about Freiermuth on Wednesday.
“Pat Freiermuth’s on fire. He’s done a great job of making plays,” Wilson said. “He was one of the reasons why I was excited to come here. He’s continuing to rise in a great way.”
If that’s true, it’s a little confusing why it took so long for Wilson to start looking Freiermuth’s way on a consistent basis. In their first four games together, Freiermuth averaged just about two catches for 25 yards per game.
Freiermuth hinted Wilson’s calf injury at the beginning the year might have had something to do with it.
“It takes time,” Freiermuth said. “Obviously, him missing time earlier in the year was tough on that, but he’s got a good feel of what I’m going to do, and I got a good feeling what he expects when he scrambles out of the pocket or ball location on certain routes. So it’s a process and we got to continue to be better at that.”
Nonetheless, expect to see Wilson looking Freiermuth’s way early and often on Saturday in a battle for the division, especially if Pickens misses his third straight game.
If the Steelers win, they’ll officially be crowned the kings of the AFC North. That’s all Freiermuth needs to hear.
“It’s pretty big. Obviously, we want to control our own destiny, being able to go into Baltimore, win the division, something that you dream of as a little kid. So I’m excited. The guys that have been here in my draft class, this is our first opportunity at a game like this,” Freiermuth said. “What better way to win it than against one of our biggest rivals in their stadium.”
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