BALTIMORE (93.7 The Fan) – What the Steelers said of missing a shot to win the division in a 34-17 loss at Baltimore Saturday. Russell Wilson said it’s his fault for the loss. An injury clarification and TJ Watt saying they can’t sit around and pout.
My bad
Wilson said after the game, to put that game on him. He said there were two great opportunities there and he went for it. Unfortunately for the quarterback and the team, they turned into huge mistakes. A pair of turnovers that changed the outcome of the game.
The first was a fumble as the Steelers were driving to take the lead in the second quarter, he got free running in the red zone. He decided around the five-yard line he wanted to make a play to score.
“Thought we had a chance to go to the end zone, tried to cut back and right before I hit the ground, the ball came out,” Wilson said. “Unacceptable. That’ can’t happen.”
The second was early in the fourth quarter after Minkah Fitzpatrick got his first interception since two seasons ago, also here in Baltimore. Ravens corner Marlon Humphrey intercepted a pass that ended up right to him and returned it 37 yards for a score.
“I thought it changed the game when they got that interception,” Wilson said. “Defense did a good job of getting the ball back. I was trying to throw it to Pruitt and hit him in his front number, I feel like the ball stayed inside. They made a play.”
Wilson said he wants to be aggressive, but feels like he cost his team the game.
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Opportunity gone
With the loss, the Steelers missed on a shot to win the AFC North outright and secure a first home playoff game with full fans since 2017.
“There is still football to be played,” Wilson said. “The reality is we have respond the right way after this one. We got a game coming up on Wednesday that we got to get ready for. We got to see what we can do better. I know what I can do better.”
“We got to hold everyone accountable, ourselves included,” said tight end Pat Freiermuth. “We got, obviously, another big AFC game Wednesday.”
The good news for the Steelers is even with the loss, if they were to beat Kansas City and Cincinnati at home, regardless of what the Ravens do, they will still win the division.
“We control our own destiny and we got two final games at home,” said linebacker Alex Highsmith. “We got to flush this quick and move on because we’ve got a really good team coming in.”
“We don’t have time to be happy or sad, we got a game in a couple of days,” said wide receiver Calvin Austin.
“Just keep your head down and work,” Wilson said. “We play on Wednesday, I don’t think there is enough time to sulk, worry or fear. The best thing we can do is come back to work and be ready to go.”
“We can’t let a tough game like this take us to a negative state of mind. We can still win the north. There are still opportunities there. We just got to buckle down and get to work.”
Quick turnaround
Tomlin and others were quick to dismiss, or use as an excuse, having to play again on Wednesday against the two-time Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
“It’s what you sign up for, it’s football,” said captain Cam Heyward. “No matter who it is, I sign up for everything. I know everyone in our locker room does. The schedule is made, you just play it.”
“If we had won two (straight games), would we really be talking about it? We’ve had opportunities, it’s not like we go into the game and there is an opportunity to take advantage of it. It’s just in those moments we are not. We’ve got to learn from those mistakes and take advantage of it.”
Joey Porter injury
Originally reported as a calf injury to Joey Porter, Junior, Tomlin said it was actually a knee injury that impacted the pain in the calf. So, it’s a knee injury for Porter with more information on Sunday.
WR Ben Skowronek suffered a hip injury after a couple of key catches and did not return. No update to his status.
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Quotes
“You got to control the run, the line of scrimmage. The turnover game is always significant in matchups like this. We failed in both areas. When you do that. You should expect to lose.”
Head coach Mike Tomlin
“As a team we don’t like to lose, but this one hits different.”
TB Jaylen Warren
“We’ve got to be more physical especially playing a team like this.”
LB Alex Highsmith
“We have four days until our next game, no time to sit around and pout.”
Captain TJ Watt
“When we are at our best, we are playing really good complementary football. That showing today did prove that.”
Cam Heyward
Inactives
The only mystery on Saturday afternoon as far as who would play were Donte Jackson (back) and Larry Ogunjobi (groin), both were questionable and eventually ruled out 90 minutes before the game. Joining those two as not dressing for the game-WR George Pickens (hamstring), QB Justin Fields (abdomen, meaning Steelers didn’t have a pure emergency quarterback) and S DeShon Elliott (hamstring)