Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers News
Worried? No Way. Steelers Rookies Excited For Playoff Rematch vs. Ravens
A couple of Steelers rookies are not allowing the lights to be too bright ahead of their wild-card matchup against the Ravens.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for their wild-card round matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. While it will be a first trip to the playoffs for some, any added pressure has been diminished thanks to the familiarity between one another.
Among the new faces for the Steelers is rookie linebacker Payton Wilson, and it’s safe to say he’s looking forward to his first postseason game in the black and gold.
“For me, it’s super cool, my first one,” Wilson said. “The intensity is high. Everybody’s super focused, locked in. I’m just excited to do my part and help us get a win.”
This isn’t like most other playoff games, though. The Steelers and Ravens have already met twice this season as AFC North division rivals.
Wilson believes what he learned from the first two meetings will help him get acclimated to the postseason atmosphere.
“That anything can really happen in this series,” Wilson said. “Every game comes down to the last second with these guys. They have some amazing players that can make anything happen at any time. So we just have to be super locked in this week. Communication and execution have to be a big thing.”
Most games between Pittsburgh and Baltimore have ended in a one-score difference. That was true for the Steelers 18-16 win against the Ravens in Week 11.
However, the same can’t be said for the latest installment. The Ravens handed the Steelers a 34-17 loss in Week 16.
That coupled with the fact the Steelers are on a four-game losing streak is likely why they are entering the matchup as a 9.5-point underdog.
Steelers rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop doesn’t care, though.
“I don’t really look at that kind of stuff,” Bishop said. “I think that was their first time beating us in the last 10 games. So, no, you’re not really worried about that kind of stuff.”
It’s unlikely the Steelers and Ravens wild-card matchup will have a similar one-sided result as a few weeks ago, but that doesn’t mean it’s a guaranteed win, either.
The Steelers are hoping to end their seven-year playoff win drought on Saturday night and their rookies could play a big part in helping to get that job done.
What better way to do that than by ending a division rival’s season on the road.
“We just know we got to win the next game,” Bishop said. “This is one that matters, and obviously, if you don’t win, you go home. You got to pack your stuff and some guys won’t be here next year.”
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