PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – His experience includes hoisting a Lombardi Trophy, Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson said for this franchise to get its first playoff win since the 2016 season, it's about focusing on this moment. Not about anything that's happened previously or could happen in the future.
"The only one we can get, is this one right now," Wilson said. "I think the focus for us is getting ready to go, enjoying the process of this."
Wilson said the stadium is still 100 yards long and 53 and a third wide, channeling the movie 'Hoosiers' when the basketball coach measured the height of the rim and the distance to the foul line to try and calm his anxious team that it's still the same game.
He said he's trying to paint the picture of how good they were. Saying just a month ago they were one of the hottest teams in football. To get back there they have to answer internal questions. How do we recreate that? How do they go off of that? How do they communicate like that? How do they play that way?
Practice is where they can live in the moment right now. It's the focus and attention to detail on the field and studying off of it. Wilson said it's the same guys in the locker room now than early December when they were 10-3. The Steelers QB said they've actually done good things recently, they need to keep that in mind as well.
"Playing in the playoffs is such a special thing," Wilson said. "For those who haven't played in the playoffs, this is such a special moment. I think the most important thing we can do is focus on our discipline, focus on our preparation and focus on getting ready when the ball is kicked off to play our best for 60 minutes."
Wilson's played in 16 playoff games and talked to guys about what it feels like. He said those moments can forever change your life. The 36-year-old said he's encouraged them that they are in the middle of that right now. You can use this opportunity to show who you can be. Wilson said that's the fun part of this time of year.
"It's being poised in those moments, you know, looking forward to it, knowing that it's going to be a four-quarter game, it's going to be a battle, and we're looking forward to the opportunity of it," Wilson said.
If there is one thing he would like to change from recent games, it's being more aggressive. Being aggressive in their mentality and that goes for the run game, pass game, whatever. This offense needs to go out there confident and with no fear.
"It's not a new game," Wilson said. "It's still the same game, it's just it's just a little bit more exposure, a little bit more fun, a little bit more worthwhile."
