Pittsburgh Review

In a 13-year career marked by remarkable red zone efficiency, Russell Wilson has accumulated 230 touchdown passes and only 16 interceptions inside the opponent's 20-yard line. He has also rushed for 28 touchdowns in these critical areas, making him a reliable asset for his team.

Recently, however, Wilson experienced setbacks with a couple of interceptions and a lost fumble in the red zone. Despite these challenges, he remains unfazed as the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) prepare to host the Cincinnati Bengals (8-8) at Acrisure Stadium for their regular season finale.

Wilson emphasizes maintaining composure after mistakes. "I think the most important thing is you have got to have amnesia," Wilson stated on Wednesday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. He highlighted that games involve both highs and lows, stressing that moving forward quickly is crucial for success.

His perspective comes from past experiences, including winning a Super Bowl with Seattle Seahawks and enduring a significant loss against New England due to an interception at the goal line. This balance of emotions is essential for players who must avoid getting too high or low during games.

This season, Wilson has accounted for nine passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in the red zone over ten starts with the Steelers. His overall performance includes throwing 15 touchdown passes against five interceptions with a passer rating of 97.4.

"Being aggressive but not being careless," he explained about his approach to decision-making on the field. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith echoed this sentiment, acknowledging turnovers happen but emphasizing smart play without losing aggression.

Smith used an analogy from blackjack: "You lose a hand... there's an art to not forcing things when they are not there."

The reference pointed towards Wilson's recent interception against Kansas City following a holding penalty that nullified a Jaylen Warren touchdown pass. Despite trailing initially, the Steelers responded by scoring on their next possession through Wilson's one-yard run.

Wilson applies lessons learned from baseball about focusing on each opportunity rather than dwelling on past errors: "I've got a lot of baseball in me... you go 30 for 100 and you're a Hall of Famer."

As they face Cincinnati Bengals next, aiming to enter playoffs strongly regardless of opponents faced later, Wilson maintains focus: "You just focus on this next game... we've got to play our best game."