When it comes to the NFL playoffs, the only quarterback in this year's field of teams with more experience than Ben Roethlisberger is Tom Brady.
But Brady has more experience than the rest of the quarterbacks -- excluding Roethlisberger -- in the postseason combined.
Outside of Roethlisberger? Mike Tomlin's team is a little inexperienced when it comes to the postseason, with the rest of the roster having 61 games of playoff experience combined.
And, unfortunately for the Steelers, who haven't won a playoff game since beating the Chiefs, 18-16, Jan. 15, 2017 in Kansas City, much of the experience on the roster is with playoff losses.
But in that regard, Tomlin is taking the tact of Tom Hiddleston's Loki in "Avengers: Infinity War." When Thanos points out that Loki's experience on Earth has all been heaped in failure, Hiddleston replies that he considers "experience experience."
Tomlin feels the same way as the Steelers (9-7-1) prepare to travel to Kansas City to face the Chiefs (12-5) at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday night in the opening round of the AFC playoffs.
"I'm not concerned about (playoff) success," Tomlin said. "I am concerned about exposure. And so, people understand what the environment is like, the intensity of it, how much detail is required, particularly to win situationally and things of that nature. Experience is good when whether it's positive or negative, the knowing. I'm less concerned about the lack of success. I'm more concerned about those who haven't experienced that playing a significant role for us."
The Steelers have 30 players on their roster with playoff experience, led by Roethlisberger's 22 career games. Placekicker Chris Boswell has appeared in seven career postseason games. Defensive lineman Cam Heyward and offensive linemen Trai Turner and Joe Haeg have appeared in six games each. Turner and Haeg, however, have not appeared in a playoff game with the Steelers.
Those four players account for 47 of the 83 combined postseason games played by the current roster.
And many of those playoff appearances are in ancillary roles. The Steelers figure to line up against a Kansas City squad that has appeared in the past two Super Bowls, winning one, with as many as six starters who have never appeared in a playoff game before, let alone being on the winning side of one.
That's where having the veterans around them along with a veteran coach will come into play.
But to a certain degree, given the Steelers had to win their final two games to be in the position to make the playoffs, they have already experienced playoff-type games, particularly last Sunday's 16-13 overtime win in Baltimore when both teams needed a win to stay alive.
A loss would have ended the Steelers season. A win kept it alive.
"We’ve been hardened by this process. It hasn’t been easy for us," said Tomlin. "We’re getting used to being in these scenarios. I think we see those scenarios clearly. We’re able to execute individually and collectively because of that experience. Hopefully, that helps us as we proceed into the playoffs. We understand the playoffs are a different level — at least those of us that have been a part of it understand that the playoffs are a different level. We’ve got a number of young guys who have gained quality experience through the course of this journey, so they’re not rookies any more.
"But they are new to playoff football and the level of intensity and competition that’s a component of playoff football that will be new to them. It will be an education process this week for those guys by me, coaches, their teammates who have been a part of it in an effort to prepare them so that they’re not surprised. They can have an opportunity to put their best foot forward."
They also have experience in Kansas City -- albeit losing experience.
The Chiefs handed the Steelers their last loss, beating them 36-10 in Week 16, forcing three turnovers that they turned into 17 points.
Having had that experience under their belt of going to Arrowhead Stadium, considered one of the loudest venues in the NFL, and playing against the Chiefs should help calm some of the issues involved with that. At least that's the hope for Tomlin.
As he likes to say, the Steelers have been there and done that part of it. Now, they just need to find a way to win as the final part of the equation.
"I don't know how much you learn from it, to be quite honest with you," Tomlin said. "They smashed us pretty definitively. More than anything, it's like a reboot."
It wouldn't be unprecedented for the Steelers to have been beaten handily by an opponent in the regular season and then come back and beat them in the postseason on the road. The Steelers did it to the Colts in 2005, beating them 21-18 in the postseason after losing in Indianapolis 26-7 in the regular season. They also accomplished the same feat against the Oilers in 1989. Houston shut the Steelers out at the Astrodome, 27-0, in the regular season, only to have the Steelers pull out a 26-23 overtime win in the postseason.
The outcome of one game does not necessarily predict the outcome of the next.
"We've been to Kansas City recently, and they handled us pretty definitively," Tomlin said. "And so we understand that. But we're not paralyzed by that. We understand that we didn't play well enough last time. But that's last time, and we're excited about the process of of readiness this time. "
• Tomlin said rookie running back Najee Harris, who suffered an elbow injury in the first half against the Ravens last week, will probably be slowed in practice early in the week, but is expected to play against the Chiefs.
Cornerback Arthur Maulet is in concussion protocol, while linebacker Robert Spillane is dealing with a knee issue. But both also could play.
Tomlin said rookie left tackle Dan Moore, who missed the game against the Ravens with an ankle injury, is slated to return to practice Wednesday, as is rookie center Kendrick Green.
But Tomlin said Green won't necessarily be returning to his starting spot at center. J.C. Hassenauer has started the past two games there and is likely to get the nod again.
"I don't know there wasn't anything we weren't seeing from Kendrick," Tomlin said regarding that decision. "I just appreciate J.C., his professional approach, his communication skills, his desire to communicate and be a hub of communication, embracing that component of the position. It's just been a good few weeks for him."
• Tomlin said he has made no decision on who will punt against the Chiefs. The Steelers are carrying both Pressley Harvin and Corliss Waitman on the roster.
Waitman punted in two games while Harvin was out dealing with the death of his father and averaged 52.1 yards per kick compared to 42.6 for Harvin. But Harvin is the more trusted holder on placekicks.
Weather in Kansas City could be a determining factor in that decision.
