Does Steelers' Mike Tomlin need to trust Russell Wilson more as NFL playoffs loom?

North Shore Drive podcast - Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates, Penguins and more

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to react to the team's NFL Week 18 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and look ahead to the wild-card playoff matchup with the Baltimore Ravens.

Have coach Mike Tomlin and OC Arthur Smith begun to lose trust in QB Russell Wilson amid some costly turnovers and decisions in recent weeks? And do they need to re-gain that trust in order to have a chance against Lamar Jackson and Co. this week? What's missing in Wilson's connection with WR George Pickens? Do they have time to fix it? And is it time for Justin Fields to see some opportunities?

Our duo tackles those questions, then turns attention to the defense. Has DC Teryl Austin's unit begun to figure things out after clamping down on Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Co.? Or is there still room for improvement? Could we continue to see Patrick Queen blitzing more than usual? And is the lack of interior pass rush beyond Cam Heyward hurting T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith outside?

In the final segment, Ray and Chris give their early thoughts on the matchup with the Ravens.