Steelers' Russell Wilson Possesses The Secret Skill Needed To Breakthrough Pittsburgh's Playoff Win Slump

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a proud franchise with one of the most storied histories in the league. However, like all teams, they have gone through rough patches, and the definition of success might be slightly different in Pittsburgh than in other cities. That's why the focus on Head Coach Mike Tomlin's winning season record doesn't go over well with many fans.  

The fans want Lombardi Trophies, and if they can't get that, they at least want to make a run for one. The Steelers have fallen short on playoff wins. They haven't won a playoff game since the 2016 AFC Divisional Game when they beat the Kansas City Chiefs 18-16. That win came with Ben Roethlisberger under center.

Now the Steelers have a new quarterback, Russell Wilson, at the helm. Wilson has been to two Super Bowls with the Seattle Seahawks, winning one. Several years have passed since that win, but Wilson still feels he has what it takes to lead a team to victory. Recently, Christopher Carter, a reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, talked about whether Wilson has what it takes to end the Steelers' playoff win drought on his Locked on Steelers Podcast. 

"I've said for years the biggest thing the Steelers haven't had in the playoffs is quarterback performance in the right moments. It's a collective problem that we've seen from the Steelers quarterback play in playoff games, even when the opportunities present themselves. Even when the play is designed, the guys are wide open, and the quarterbacks just haven't delivered. Russell Wilson has delivered in the playoffs. He has thrown touchdowns."

Carter said it isn't a knock against Roethlisberger, but more of a positive attribute of Wilson's that Roethlisberger had as many, if not more interceptions than touchdowns in playoff games the majority of the time. He notes that with Wilson, it is the opposite; he calls it unusual for Wilson to have as many interceptions as touchdowns in the playoffs.   

He also said that Wilson has been able to score when games are close, noting that he did that in 2021, the last time he led a team to the playoffs. Carter feels that Wilson approaches the games differently than many other quarterbacks. 

"Russell Wilson is going to play to the strategy. Russell Wilson isn't a guy that's going to shy away in the moment, and there are plenty of moments where Russell Wilson came up short in big moments like the interception he threw in the Super Bowl. But there's also plenty of times where he's delivered in those big moments, just like Ben Roethlisberger did, but I think he was a little bit more consistent in what he was executing because it wasn't all about him. And that's what the Steelers need."

Carter cited Wilson's statistics for playoff games, noting he has a 95.3 passer rating over his career, which is better than Roethlisberger's 86.7. Of course, there are a lot of factors that play into this. Football is a team sport and not solely dependent on the quarterback. Carter says the Steelers' much-improved offensive line is the best they have had in years and will be a big part of the success. 

Wilson will also be motivated by the fact that he is fighting for his football life this season. He is on a one-year contract with Pittsburgh and hopes to prove to the Steel City and the entire NFL that he still has what it takes to win. 

Steelers' Russell Wilson Has Serious Competition

Wilson won't be in a vacuum this year; Justin Fields will be alongside him, hoping to prove his value. Fields is much younger than Wilson and hasn't had the same level of success, but many feel that he has a higher ceiling. 

Tomlin has said that Wilson has "pole position" to start for the 2024 season, based on his experience and success in the NFL. Many analysts think that the Steelers will have the quarterback competition of the season in Latrobe. Wilson is a nine-time Pro Bowler, but Fields is considered one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the league.

Do you agree that Wilson can help the Steelers win in the playoffs? Click to comment below.

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