BALTIMORE — The Steelers are 6-5 and in trouble, and they know it.
Emotions were raw in Pittsburgh’s locker room following Sunday night’s 20-17 overtime loss to the Ravens. There was anger. There was frustration. There was controversy. And there was realistic talk about their diminished chances of making the playoffs.
Mike Wallace (left) and Dennis Dixon walk off after the Steelers’ OT loss.
“We’ve got to win out,” defensive end Brett Keisel said. “There are no ifs, ands or buts. We’ve got to win out in order for us to be playing in January.”
Winning the remaining five games will be difficult for the Steelers, considering their physical and mental state. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger did not play Sunday because of lingering symptoms from a concussion sustained last week. But his teammates were not informed until Saturday that Roethlisberger would not play. Wide receiver Hines Ward said he was “shocked” to learn Roethlisberger would not play after seeing him practice all week.
“It was very shocking to a lot of guys on this team,” Ward said.
Ward, in light of his interview with NBC’s Bob Costas, found himself surrounded by reporters in the locker room. Ward had told NBC: “I could see some players or teammates questioning like, ‘It’s just a concussion, I’ve played with a concussion before.’ It’s almost like a 50-50 tossup in the locker room. Should he play? Shouldn’t he play?”<br …
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