The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the playoffs, and with it being the team’s latest game fans’ hopes remain high heading into the Wild Card Round of the AFC Playoffs. The hope is there is a winning performance on the horizon on Saturday when the team travels to play the Baltimore Ravens.

What exactly do the Steelers need to do to on offense to claim the playoff victory? Let’s break it down…

Offense

For the love of all things holy, don’t turn it over

It has been 10 weeks since the Steelers had a game they didn’t turn the ball over. Fumbles, interceptions, pick-sixes…doesn’t matter. The Steelers margin for error is razor thin, and that is amplified in the postseason. If the Steelers can play a clean brand of football, not giving the Ravens field position/points, they will have a shot at the end of this one.

Don’t be predictable

The Steelers vs. the Bengals in Week 18 was one of the most predictable offensive game plans we’ve seen from Arthur Smith. 1st down runs were the norm, and the overall execution of those plays left a lot to be desired. Where are the play-action passes? Where are the bootlegs? Where is the Justin Fields package? If the Steelers want to go into Baltimore and shock the Ravens, along with the NFL world, they’ll have to remove the predictability from the offensive call sheet.

Manage the game properly

The Steelers have done a poor job managing the game the past four weeks. The 4 minute and 2 minute offenses have been marred by mistakes and poor decisions. The Steelers need to be aggressive, but not dumb. When points present themselves, take the points. Learn from games like the Vikings vs. Lions game in Week 18. The Steelers winning in these key areas of the game will be key for them potentially pulling off the upset.

I talk about this, and MUCH more on the “Let’s Ride”, and you can hear that podcast in the player below this article. In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the team as they gear up for game time!