The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into their Wild Card matchup with the Baltimore Ravens and it’s all becoming more intense. Having gone four games without a win during the regular season, there’s no time for slippage on the part of the team. Tomlin’s playoff mantra is simple: believe in it, but swell it up.

Tomlin, in his 18th season as head coach, has built a legacy defined by unwavering stability—18 straight years without a losing record. His leadership is both pragmatic and personal. Known for his direct yet inspiring approach, Tomlin focuses on preparation without overcomplicating the moment. As he puts it, “It’s not a time to get new or brand new. It’s more of what we’ve been doing, obviously at a higher level of intensity and with better execution.” The players hear him, especially the quarterbacks who’ll carry the weight of the team’s ambitions.

“We’ve got to be careful as leaders because people get their tenor from us, and so we’ve got to be ourselves. But we’ve got to be our best selves.” These words from Mike Tomlin perfectly capture the essence of playoff football. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are the big players at the center of this epic riddle. Wilson came in at mid-season owing to injury issues. And he got 1,200 yards passing with 8 TDs and 5 interceptions through six games — good, but he has to find his top form to get the Steelers moving. Fields, meanwhile, hit the ground running and rushed for 1,500 yards, 10 scores, and 6 interceptions in the opening week. His flexibility and athleticism make the heist unpredictable. The Steelers have to accept Tomlin’s strategy to “be the best versions of themselves” if they want to be truly in the playoffs.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. The Steelers’ playoff hopes hinge on both quarterbacks embracing their roles while embodying Tomlin’s philosophy. Russell Wilson’s experience and Fields’ explosiveness give the Steelers a unique edge if they can find a rhythm. For a team that’s been counted out more times than they’d like to admit, this is their chance to flip the script. And they need some weapons to boost their power.

Washington to amp up Russell Wilson and Co

Of course, no quarterback is good without weapons, and that weapon is Darnell Washington. This young Steelers tight end is getting everything he can get out of his four-year, $5.35 million deal. Washington is a young man just 24 and his cap hit ($1.46 million for 2025) is a decent price for him. He’s on a base salary of $1.24 million this season and should be a regular contributor going into the postseason, especially since Tomlin is promising to use him more against the Ravens.

Washington’s deal is as much about what he could be rather than what he’s done so far. With an $893,752 signing bonus and guarantee for the same price, the Steelers get some slack when betting on his development. Since he has a dead cap value of just $446,876 in 2025, clearly the Steelers arranged the deal to be team-friendly, but to reward Washington on the field. And he’s done just that, with his 19 receptions for 200 yards and a touchdown in the regular season.

That’s what makes Washington’s game so nice. The 6’7″ and 270-pound TE is a nightmare defender because he can block like a lineman and be a monster receiver. To make Tomlin count on him during the playoffs is more than just prudent. Against a Ravens defense that is physical, Washington’s size and ability could tip the balance toward Pittsburgh. In terms of money, Washington’s deal is an arm wrestle for the Steelers. He makes an average of $1.34 million a year, less than elite tight ends do in the NFL. To an upside player like him, that’s burger-priced filet mignon. He’ll be one of the league’s best offensive weapons if he keeps developing this fast.

With the Steelers coming into the postseason, Tomlin’s faith in his quarterbacks and his $5 million weapon, Darnell Washington, says it all. The Ravens are the favorites maybe, but with Tomlin in the backseat, Wilson and Fields around, and Washington on display, the Steelers have all the makings of a postseason run. Let’s see if they can do it.