Russell Wilson wasn’t let off the hook after trying to focus on the 2024 NFL playoffs, not the Pittsburgh Steelers’ four-game losing streak.

The Steelers finished the regular season 10-7 after being beaten 19-17 by the Cincinnati Bengals. Their last victory came on Dec. 8 against division rivals the Cleveland Browns.

Since then, they’ve lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, and now the Bengals, all of whom fancy their chances against the Steelers in the postseason. As for Wilson as the Steelers starter since taking over from Justin Fields earlier on in the season, he’s only managed six victories and five losses.

I don’t really wanna talk about the past just because I think we’ve been in that for a little bit here,” Wilson told reporters on the Steelers’ losing streak. “I think the best thing we can do is get ready for the playoffs. It’s a new season. That’s the only thing that really matters anymore at this point, right?

“The reality is, obviously us winning that game would have helped us in some form or fashion. But at the end of the day, when you go into the playoffs, everybody’s 0-0. You gotta beat everybody anyway. And that’s gotta be our focus right now.”

However, Wilson’s deflection didn’t go down well on ESPN. Scott Van Pelt and Ryan Clark told the quarterback that the past is relevant, with the Steelers heading into the playoffs without winning momentum. “It’s our job to talk about the past,” SVP said. “It seems pretty relevant right now,” Clark added.

“We’re not talking about 19 — we’re not talking about the Great Depression. We’re talking about the game you guys just lost; that’s the fourth in a row,” SVP continued.

The Steelers will play either Houston or Baltimore first

The Steelers will play either Houston or Baltimore first ( 

Image:

Getty)

Pittsburgh’s two possible first-round opponents are the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens, both of whom won their respective divisions. It was the Ravens who the Steelers were chasing in the AFC North before Baltimore sealed the division on Saturday night.

Wilson will be the Steelers’ starter heading into the playoffs, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin has confirmed. Tomlin says he hasn’t considered dropping Wilson for Fields. “Not really, no,” Tomlin said when asked if he considered benching Wilson.

“Honesty, because our failures were collective, and I think at this juncture the most prudent thing for us to do was stick with those that were on the field and work through it.”