Russell Wilson Explains Interception vs. Ravens: “We Needed a Big Play’

PITTSBURGH — Russell Wilson scurried around, looking a lot like he did during his heyday with Seattle.

The result, however, wasn’t exactly what the Pittsburgh Steelers’ veteran quarterback was aiming for.

On a fourth-quarter third-and-goal from the 11-yard line, Wilson dropped back and was spooked forward into a tight pocket by Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh, who’d already notched 2.5 sacks on the day.

Seeing a wall in the form of Nnamdi Madubuike, Wilson bailed from the cavern in front of him, spinning backwards to his left and slipping away from a lunging Oweh, who was still in pursuit. That bought the signal-caller some time as he rolled to his right.

With Ravens safety Ar’Darius Washington closing in, Russell Wilson made a decision.

“I tried to give Darnell (Washington) a shot down there in the red zone,” Wilson said. “Obviously, we needed a play. We needed a touchdown. I was trying to throw it up to the big man. … I was just trying to alley-oop to the big boy.”

Instead, Wilson’s pass hovered over Washington’s head — Washington stands 6-foot-7, for reference — and into Marlon Humphrey’s arms for Wilson’s second interception in as many games, once again keeping the Steelers from crossing the goal line.

Standout kicker Chris Boswell scored all 18 of the Steelers’ points in an 18-16 win.

“We had a few opportunities,” Russell Wilson said. “George (Pickens) almost came down with that one. That would have been big. We had a couple other opportunities that we just didn’t capitalize on. We’ve just got to make the play. … When you’re playing these kind of championship-type games, not everything’s going to go your way.”