This Pittsburgh Steelers roster is not one that is full of much playoff success. Chris Boswell and Cam Heyward are the only two tenured Steelers players since 2017 that have experienced what it is like to win a playoff game. Pittsburgh made it to the postseason in 2021, 2020, and during the 2017 season, but were unable to advance. Their last postseason victory came during the 2016 season when they made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game. Luckily, they have had some new additions with playoff success, and one of them addressed the team before their Sunday showdown with the Buffalo Bills.
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Steelers offensive lineman, Isaac Seumalo (#73) during practice at the team's 2023 minicamp at the UMPC Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, PA.
Steelers' Isaac Seumalo Addresses The Team Ahead Of The Postseason
The Steelers enter the playoffs as the seventh seed in the AFC, and they are considered a long shot to have any playoff success. They need every advantage they can get, with one being their experienced veterans sharing their words of wisdom. Offensive Coordinator Eddie Faulkner wanted to get the team ready for the postseason, so he had Isaac Seumalo give an inspiring speech to the team during their week of preparation to take on the Bills in the Wild Card round. Faulkner shared why he thought this was important with Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
"Whatever resource we can pull from guys to get them headed in the right direction, we’ll use. When he speaks, people listen, so that’s cool."
Seumalo was signed by the Steelers following the 2022 season, mainly for his impressive play on the field, but also because he is an experienced veteran who has playoff success. Seumalo won Super Bowl LII with the Philadelphia Eagles when they took down the New England Patriots. There are some similarities between that Eagles team and this Steelers team, as they were starting Nick Foles at quarterback following an injury to their starting quarterback Carson Wentz.
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Philadelphia Eagles guard Isaac Seumalo (#56) looks on during the NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in Philadelphia.
Winning the Super Bowl in 2018 wasn't the only time Seumalo found success in the postseason. He was also a member of the Eagles in 2022 when they went to the Super Bowl and lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. The 2022 Eagles were one of the best teams in the NFL, as they went 14-3 in the regular season and earned themselves a first-round bye in the playoffs. They went on to absolutely dominate on their way to an NFC Championship. They beat their division rival, the New York Giants, in the divisional round and then destroyed the beat up San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. They outscored their opponents 69-14 on the NFC side of the playoff bracket.
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Steelers left guard Isaac Seumalo should help open up huge roles for the running game in 2023 and beyond.
The path for the Steelers in the playoffs will be a difficult one. Being the lowest seed means they will need to play every game on the road. They open as 10-point underdogs in Buffalo. If they find a way to win that game, they will then need to travel to play the Baltimore Ravens, where they will try to beat the Ravens for a third time this season.
Having someone like Seumalo on the team to share what he has learned from playing in the postseason will be nothing but beneficial as they attempt to shock the NFL world.
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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward (#97).
Even superstar outside linebacker TJ Watt has yet to win a playoff game, as he is 0-3 in the postseason. The Steelers did a good job of bringing in veterans like Seumalo who have been on a team that has seen the confetti fall at the end of the season. Another veteran that has shared this experience is Eric Rowe, who was originally signed to the practice squad, but has proven to be a capable player at the safety position for Pittsburgh. Rowe won two Super Bowls during his time with the New England Patriots. Middle linebacker Elandon Roberts has two Super Bowl rings with the Patriots as well.
Having guys like Seumalo, Rowe, and Roberts will help Pittsburgh, but they still have their work cut out for them as they head to Buffalo to try and take down Josh Allen and the Bills.
What do you think of Seumalo addressing the team prior to the playoffs? Let us know in the comments below!
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