The old adage in sports to take a season one game at a time is an important tool to stay focused week in and week out throughout a grueling year.
While I believe it is important for teams to look no farther in the future than the next game on the schedule, Hines Ward has openly squashed that trend, and you know something……. I’m right with him on this one.
The Steelers still have three preseason games remaining on the schedule, including a huge matchup (for preseason standards) against the “dream team” from across the state this Thursday night. After being on the PUP list to start training camp, you would think Hines would be focused on getting as many reps as possible during the preseason to ensure he will be fully healthy and conditioned when the regular season starts. But all of that seems secondary to Hines who only has one thing on his mind for the next three weeks…….beating the Baltimore Ravens in week one.
“I focus on one team and that is Baltimore,” Ward said to Steelers.com writer Teresa Varley.
“I don’t know what everyone else is thinking, but I am always thinking Baltimore. I watched their preseason game just because they are Baltimore. I watched their new corner. I am worrying about Baltimore.”
Hines may be on to something with his apparent obsession over Baltimore. You never want to think that the first game of the season is a make or break game for a team…..and in reality it is not. But I promise you the season will have a different outlook if the black and gold can roll into M&T Bank Stadium on September 11, and knock off the Ravens in the first week of the season.
Besides the fact a win in Baltimore would put the Steelers a game up on the only team that can challenge the black and gold for another AFC North title, a win in Baltimore would give the Steelers a ton of confidence to start the year.
With games against the Colts, Texans and Titans just over the horizon, it would be nice to see the Steelers get the season started off right with a win in Baltimore. The Ravens do not have a particularly tough schedule to start the season after the Steelers come to town, which makes getting a win in week one even more important for the Steelers.
But I guess when the season officially starts, Hines and the rest of the team can start taking things one game at a time.
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