Much like they did in 2005 with Jerome Bettis, the entire Steelers organization, from the locker room to the front office, would like to get to the Super Bowl for defensive end Cam Heyward.
The three-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection has won just one playoff game in eight postseason appearances — and that was nine years ago in a wild-card victory in Cincinnati.
But at least he has one victory.
T.J. Watt is still waiting for his first — and it’s growing increasingly frustrating for the four-time All-Pro outside linebacker, who does not try to hide his displeasure.
“It’s been no secret from the start,” Watt said.
Despite all his personal success as NFL defensive player of the year and co-holder of the league’s all-time single-season sack record, Watt has never won a playoff game in his eight seasons. He is 0-for-4 in the postseason and has watched the Steelers fall behind, 56-0, in the first quarter of those defeats.
And, quite frankly, he is tired of the failures.
“All summer long, I’ve been preaching it when I first got here (at training camp), and it’s been something we’ve talked about since,” Watt said. “I haven’t won a playoff game since I’ve been here. So it’s very important to me.”
Watt gets another chance on Saturday when the Steelers (10-7) go to Baltimore to play the Ravens (11-6) in a wild-card playoff game. They are heavy underdogs again after losing their past four games — the first time they have ended the regular season with four consecutive losses since 1998.
“It’s just what it is,” Watt said. “It really is just the situation that we’re in. So we need to win.”
After finishing the season tied for eighth in sacks (11.5) and second in tackles for loss (19), Watt’s impact on the game will have to be significant if the Steelers want to end their seven-year postseason victory drought. In two games against the Ravens this season, Watt had one sack, two quarterback hits and two tackles for loss.
He tried to do that in the 42-21 wild-card loss in Kansas City in the 2021 season when he picked up a fumble and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown to give the Steelers a 7-0 lead in the second quarter — the only lead the Steelers have held in Watt’s four playoff appearances.
In four playoff games, Watt has just one sack, three tackles for loss and five quarterback hits.
“I’ve got plenty of time left,” Watt said. “But there is an urgency to win, there is.
“Nobody likes to lose.”
First Published: January 8, 2025, 5:55 p.m.
Updated: January 9, 2025, 3:01 a.m.
