Steelers Players Share What It Was Like Rooting For The Titans On Sunday And Their Excitement For The Playoffs: "It's A New Season"

The Pittsburgh Steelers once again put themselves in position in the final week of the regular season to clinch a playoff berth with a win and some help. Unlike the 2022 season, everything worked out for Pittsburgh and the Steelers were able to clinch the seventh seed in the AFC and will take on the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs on Sunday. The team beat the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18, but the Tennessee Titans defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday is what officially sent the Steelers to the postseason. 

Steelers Players React To Earning A Playoff Spot

Players such as Pat Freiermuth and Patrick Peterson were out of their comfort zone, as they had to watch additional games on Sunday as fans, and root for all the pieces to fall into place for the Steelers to make the playoffs. Freiermuth spoke about watching the Titans beat the Jaguars in Week 18, and what it felt like being a fan for a day with Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"I kind of felt like how Steelers fans feel every Sunday, just watching the game, it's so intense. Usually I'm on the other side of it. I'm kind of focused on the game, not even thinking about the broader things. But watching the game, knowing what could be, it's a lot more stressful."

This isn't the first time Freiermuth has been put in this position. Back during the 2021 season, the Steelers needed the game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Los Angeles Chargers not to end in a tie in order to make the playoffs. Ties are usually an anomaly in the NFL, so Steelers fans weren't really worried about it. However, the game got as close to tying as possible. It went to overtime, and wasn't ended until the Raiders kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired in the overtime period. 

The Steelers have made the playoffs this season, but are extremely large underdogs against the Bills, who have won five games straight. They also just won the AFC East title against the Miami Dolphins. It'll be a tough matchup as Pittsburgh will have to travel to Buffalo for the game, but the Steelers are on a hot-streak of their own. They've won their last three games of the regular season. 

Peterson spoke about how the team is feeling going into their Wild Card matchup with Buffalo and their current hot-streak. 

"At this point, however you’re able to get in, as long as you’re in, and the way we were able to get in, I feel like we’re on a hot streak, we’re a dangerous team. But we have to go out there and prove it again Sunday. We did everything we needed to do to put ourselves in position, with a little help. Now we’re here. We can’t look back. It’s a new season."

Peterson and the Steelers are riding their longest win streak of the 2023 season, and will look to keep it going in the postseason. The Steelers haven't won a playoff game since their 2016 run to the AFC Championship Game in which they were destroyed by the New England Patriots. Their last playoff appearance was during the 2021 season, and it was a short one, as they lost 42-21 to the Kansas City Chiefs in what was Ben Roethlisberger's final game. 

Obviously, it's the playoffs, and winning is the only thing that matters. However, the Steelers will be looking for a win so that hopefully TJ Watt will be healthy enough to play again this season. He suffered an MCL sprain in the regular season finale which will keep him sidelined for a couple of weeks. If he has any shot to play in the playoffs, the Steelers will need him to help their chances.

The Steelers didn't play the Bills during the 2023 regular season, but they did defeat them during the preseason. The two last played a meaningful game during the 2022 season, and the Steelers lost that game in Buffalo by a pitiful score of 38-3. Peterson and Freiermuth will need to bring their best game in the Wild Card round in order to avoid another heartbreaker in Buffalo. 

What do you think about Freiermuth and Peterson's comments? Let us know in the comments below!

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