Russell Wilson was focused on looking ahead after the Pittsburgh Steelers suffered their fourth consecutive loss on Saturday night. However, ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt had a different perspective, and he didn’t shy away from expressing it.
During Wilson’s postgame press conference, the veteran quarterback spoke about the team’s struggles and the need to shift focus as the playoffs approach. When asked about Pittsburgh’s downward spiral to close the regular season, Wilson appeared reluctant to dwell on what went wrong.
“I don’t really want to talk about the past just because I think we’ve been in that for a little bit here,” Wilson said. “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.”
Later, on SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt, the host and NFL analyst Ryan Clark reviewed Wilson’s comments. Van Pelt, known for his candid takes, took issue with Wilson’s dismissal of the team’s recent struggles.
“It’s our job to talk about the past,” Van Pelt said bluntly.
Clark chimed in, adding, “It seems pretty relevant right now.”
Van Pelt doubled down, saying, “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.”
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A Season of Highs and Lows
Wilson’s performance in the Steelers’ 27-17 loss to the Bengals was emblematic of Pittsburgh’s recent woes. The 36-year-old quarterback completed just 17 of 31 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown. It was another middling outing in a season that started with promise but has since unraveled.
The 2024 campaign began with Justin Fields at quarterback while Wilson recovered from a calf injury. Fields led the team to a 4-2 start before Wilson returned and guided the Steelers to four more wins, sparking hopes of a deep playoff run. However, the wheels began to fall off in December. Over the Steelers’ last seven games, Wilson has averaged just 220 passing yards per game with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Despite their struggles, Pittsburgh secured a playoff berth thanks to their strong start. However, their late-season slide cost them home-field advantage. The Steelers now face the prospect of entering the postseason as a lower seed, with potential matchups against the Texans or Ravens looming.
Looking Ahead, But Questions Remain
Wilson’s refusal to address the team’s struggles in detail may align with his desire to focus on the playoffs, but questions about the Steelers’ collapse will inevitably persist. How did a team that once looked like a Super Bowl contender falter so dramatically? Can they turn things around in time for the playoffs?
For Van Pelt and Clark, addressing the past isn’t just relevant—it’s necessary to understand how Pittsburgh got here and whether they can right the ship.
“They’ve lost four straight games,” Van Pelt concluded on the broadcast. “That doesn’t just disappear because the calendar flips to the playoffs.”
The Steelers’ postseason fate now rests on their ability to regroup and recapture the form that made them one of the AFC’s top teams earlier in the season. Whether Wilson and the team can achieve that remains to be seen, but their recent performances have left fans and analysts alike skeptical.
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