The playoff field is now complete and the matchups are set.
For the Steelers, the trip to the postseason will be their first since 2017, one that didn't end so well, as they were beaten, 45-42, in the Divisional Round by the Jaguars after a first-round bye.
And while the Steelers have 26 players on their roster with playoff experience heading into their postseason game Sunday at Heinz Field against the Browns, they have 27 that don't.
One of those with playoff experience, however, is the most critical. And that would be Ben Roethlisberger.
A win Sunday would improve Roethlisberger's career playoff record to 14-8. Those 14 playoff wins would move him into a tie with Peyton Manning, John Elway and Terry Bradshaw for the third-most playoff wins by a quarterback in NFL history.
It's that playoff experience the Steelers will lean on in this game.
The Browns, who haven't been in the postseason since 2002, have just 15 players with postseason experience, with most of that coming in reserve roles from bit players such as wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge -- who was placed on the Reserve COVID-19 List Tuesday -- or reserve offensive lineman Kendall Lamm.
Of the players expected to see extensive playing time against the Steelers Sunday, only defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn, center J.C. Tretter, cornerback Terrance Mitchell, wide receiver Jarvis Landry, tight end Austin Hooper, running back Kareem Hunt and right tackle Jack Conklin have playoff experience.
And that group has appeared in 25 career playoff games, or just four more than Roethlisberger has appeared in himself.
That's hardly unusual when it comes to Roethlisberger. Sunday's game will be the quarterback's 22nd playoff game, which will put him a tie for 23rd-most in NFL history.
It's something younger players can lean upon. And it's why Roethlisberger called a meeting of the offensive players two weeks ago to emphasize what to expect for younger players who haven't been in the postseason.
"We just look at the vets around us in the locker room who have been there before," said rookie Chase Claypool. "If we have any questions, we just go to them. They usually just offer guidance and advice without us asking.
"Ben emphasized taking care of our body throughout this week and prior weeks leading up to this. As we clinched the division and the playoffs, he wanted to make sure we took care of ourselves to be ready for practice and ultimately be ready for the game. It's nice hearing that from someone who can tell you weeks in advance what to prepare for to make sure you have the best performance in the playoffs."
Not only does Roethlisberger have nearly as much playoff experience as the entire Browns roster, he has nearly as much experience as the rest of the quarterbacks in the AFC playoff field combined.
The quarterbacks in the AFC playoffs not named Roethlisberger have appeared in 22 playoff games, posting an 11-11 record. Only two, the Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes (4-1) and Titans' Ryan Tannehill (2-1) have winning records.
But even that is hardly something outside the norm. Of the 14 quarterbacks in this year's postseason, only Roethlisberger, Mahomes, Tannehill, Tom Brady (30-11), Aaron Rodgers (10-8) and Russell Wilson (9-6) have winning records. That's less than half of this year's field.
Other long-time veterans such as Drew Brees (8-8), Philip Rivers (5-6) have playoff wins, but not a winning record in the postseason.
Buffalo's Josh Allen (0-1) and Baltimore's Lamar Jackson (0-2) have yet to win a playoff game, while the Browns' Baker Mayfield will be making his first playoff appearance.
Winning postseason games is not easy. Of the quarterbacks who finished the 2020 season on an NFL roster -- well over 60 -- only 10 have a winning postseason record. And that includes backups such as Joe Flacco (10-5), Nick Foles (4-2) and Blake Bortles (2-1), along with the injured Jimmy Garoppolo (2-1).
Mike Tomlin acknowledges that Roethlisberger's playoff experience -- especially as it pertains to Sunday's matchup against Mayfield in particular -- can be an advantage for the Steelers, even though Roethlisberger has won just three of his past eight postseason starts.
"I do," he said. "But I haven't thought a lot about it. I just know it's helpful to our cause. So, I haven't spent a lot of time enjoying the potential aspects of that. I'm more focused on the challenges of preparation."
In Cleveland, however, there have to be concerns about Mayfield, in particular, going into his first playoff experience. Since 2002, quarterbacks making their first career playoff start at 9-30 in those games.
The quarterback is known as a very emotional player. And there's no doubt that Mayfield will be a little more juiced up for his first trip into the postseason. That can lead to overthrows or poor execution.
For example, Roethlisberger was 17 of 31 for 181 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in his first playoff game in 2004, a 20-17 win over the Jets. Brady was 32 of 52 for 312 yards, but no touchdowns and one interception in a 16-13 win over the Raiders in the infamous "Tuck Rule" game that was his first experience in the playoffs. Wilson was 15 of 26 for 181 yards and a touchdown, but was sacked five times in a 24-14 win over Washington in 2012.
But at least they won. Brees lost his first playoff game while with the Chargers, falling to the Jets, 20-17 in 2005. Rodgers dropped a 51-45 game to the Cardinals in 2009 in his first playoff start.
Keeping the highly emotional Mayfield in check will be critical for the Browns early -- something that could be even more difficult considering head coach Kevin Stefanski, who also calls Cleveland's offensive plays, won't be available after testing positive for COVID-19 this week.
"He is a fiery player. He is a fiery person. I think you just see a player who really wants it," Stefanski said of Mayfield Monday.
So, too, does Roethlisberger. But there is an expectation that he won't allow his emotions to get the best of him in this game or in these playoffs.
"We can go down their roster and down our roster and talk about playoff experience," said Tomlin. "The reality is, there's not a lot of playoff experience by a lot of people. There's scarcity in these games. These are big moments. We just need to position ourselves to play and to seize these moments. I'm not spending a lot of time worrying about who has experience and who does not. I just want to position these guys to play well and push through some of those things."
Mostly, Tomlin doesn't worry about that aspect of it because he doesn't have to do so. He'll leave that to the coaches who enter the postseason with unknown or unproven commodities at the most important position on the field.