Cameron Heyward not thinking about 'nonsense' of Steelers being 10-point underdogs to Bills

Cameron Heyward doesn’t care that the Pittsburgh Steelers are prohibitive underdogs in their wild-card playoff matchup at Buffalo on Sunday. The Bills, winners of five games in a row, are 10-point favorites according to many betting sites.

“That is for Vegas and all the other naysayers,” Heyward said Wednesday. “We’re excited to be in this opportunity. We understand (that being) the 10-point underdog doesn’t decide the game. It’s in between the lines. It’s the team that executes. It’s the team that wins the turnover battle, the team that wins the rushing battles.

“Ten-point underdogs is a whole lot of nonsense to us.”

While the Bills are perhaps the hottest team in the NFL entering the postseason, the Steelers will carry a three-game winning streak into the matchup. It is for that reason that Heyward, the longest-tenured player on the roster, likes the Steelers’ chances.

“We’ve got hungry dudes relishing this opportunity,” he said. “We create turnovers, and we’re excited for this moment. On offense, we’ve got a great group that is growing, and we like how we are trending.”

Heyward is one of only two players on the roster — kicker Chris Boswell is the other — who were present when the Steelers last won a playoff game. That was in the divisional round after the 2016 season in Kansas City when Boswell kicked six field goals in an 18-16 victory. Heyward didn’t play in the game because of a pectoral injury that caused him to miss the second half of that season.

The Steelers are 0-4 in playoff games since then.

“Guys who have been here, we own that,” Heyward said. “It’s a new season. We’re just ready for this opportunity. We understand it’s not given to us. We’ve earned it. It’s an opportunity to go out there and play some good ball.”

Heyward isn’t concerned that at age 34, this might be his last chance to play in the postseason. Or that he may be slowing down after missing six games in the first half of the season because of a groin injury.

“Young or old, you should relish these opportunities,” he said. “Last week, I was asked if it was going to be my last game. My concern is playing now, playing beyond this season. I appreciate the question, but I’m focused on this season and the seasons after it.”