PITTSBURGH – Reeling in the midst of a three-game losing streak two weeks ago, Ben Roethlisberger called a players-only meeting for the offense.

Wednesday morning, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback called another.

The purpose of these meetings wasn’t to correct things going wrong within the Steelers’ offense.

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Instead, Roethlisberger wanted to focus his teammates on the future, to ready them for the most important part of their season: the playoffs.

“The sole intention was just to let guys know that, like we do every year about this time, if we are getting ready to get in the postseason or the last couple of games of the season, just how important every game is, every play is, every rep in practice,” Roethlisberger said. “I felt like today was another time we could reemphasize that and just let people know how special it is. Half of the teams in the NFL aren’t playing this week, so it’s an honor to have the opportunity.”

Roethlisberger will be starting his 22nd playoff game on Sunday, against the Cleveland Browns (8:15 p.m. ET, NBC). For the players around him, playoff experience is scarce – especially among skill players.

Roethlisberger’s plan of holding players-only meetings to reiterate the important mindset entering the playoffs is reminiscent of what veterans did for him ahead of his first playoff game in January 2005.

“I just remember it being a whirlwind,” Roethlisberger said, adding the veterans on that team also called a players-only meeting. “Telling myself, ‘Don’t screw it up for these veterans. Do everything you can to play good enough to help you win.’ That is one of the messages I preach to these guys. No one has to be great. You just have to be good. When we’re all good, we’re great together.”

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The scarcity of these moments isn’t lost on this team – and it has been something Roethlisberger has emphasized in the players-only meetings.

“When I was a young guy, people tried to explain to me [to] take advantage of this, that and the other,” Roethlisberger said. “You’re thinking, ‘I am young; I’ll get back.’ It’s not guaranteed. I think all of the veteran guys, as we are winding down our careers, we understand we don’t know what is next, if there is going to be a next for some guys. We just want to make the most of our opportunity, and we just keep trying to tell those guys and emphasize to them how important this time is.”