By Michael K. Reynolds
Remarkably, the Pittsburgh Steelers loss to the New Orleans Saints has not yet made them beggars and thieves as they were during last year’s last gasp attempt at trying to make the playoffs.
Thanks to accompanying losses by both the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh is still in the enviable position of controlling its destiny.
It’s simple. If they win out their remaining four games, they earn the AFC North title and finish the season with an admirable 11-5 record carrying momentum into the playoffs.
But getting back to Planet Earth, the Steelers have only two impressive wins this entire season: The 51-34 victory over the Indianapolis Colts and the Joe Greene inspired 43-23 pounding of the performance enhanced Baltimore Ravens.
That means they’ve only truly thrilled Steelers Nation in 17% of the games they’ve played. Worse, it’s been more than a month since quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a game he’ll want to clip out for his memory book. That doesn’t exactly inspire fans to rally themselves for a glory run.
So what says the Steelers Playoffs Crystal Ball in the four remaining games? It’s down to rollin’ sevens from here on out. Despite what they’ll claim, if the team stumbles again in 2014 the players with start polishing up their golf clubs and focusing on their cruise reservations.
At CINCINNATI BENGALS: Must Win
These are no longer the Bungles of recent past. The striped ones know they need only to beat the Steelers in order to forge a clear path to the playoffs. If the Steelers are going to pull off the upset, they will have to pry it from the claws of a talented team.
At ATLANTA FALCONS: Must Win
Nothing more frightening for Steelers fans than a team with a losing record.
Vs. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Must Win
The ultimate revenge match against the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year. Wouldn’t it be justice if Andy Reid played his back-ups and ball boys as he did in the “meaningless” last game of the season against the San Diego Chargers?
Vs. CINCINNATI BENGALS: Must Win
It will be a minor miracle if this game even matters.
All of the predictions remain the same as they were last week for the vaunted Crystal Ball but already the future is putting a strain on a fortune well told…
Current Playoff Seedings
1st Seed – NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (9-3)
Shortly after quarterback Tom Brady uttered his last curse word following the loss to the Green Bay Packers coach Bill Belichick took the team directly to San Diego without passing Go. Did he want his team to get a tan? No, he wants them to torch the Chargers. Expect that to happen and for the Patriots to roll the rest of the way.
PROJECTED FINISH: 13-3
2nd Seed – DENVER BRONCOS (9-3)
The Broncos away victory against the Chiefs was huge for them and puts to question their projected finish here. But with away games remaining against the Chargers and Bengals and with Tom Terrific mad as heck, they’ll have a tough time getting that number one seed.
PROJECTED FINISH: 11-5
3rd Seed – CINCINNATI BENGALS (8-3-1)
The Bengals got a huge break when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers narrowly missed stealing a victory. The Seattle Seahawks may boast about their Twelfth Man but it was Tampa Bay’s twelfth man on the field that may save the Bengals season. They have tough games ahead so this weekend is as critical for them as it is for the Steelers.
PROJECTED FINISH: 9-6-1
4th Seed – INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-4)
With the Houston Texans still alive in their division the Colts will be all-in in this weekend’s game against the Browns which is good news for the Steelers. That leaves the Houston Texans and the Dallas Cowboys as the only tough games remaining. This might be Andrew Luck’s lucky season.
PROJECTED FINISH: 10-6
5th Seed – SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (8-4)
The Chargers cheered the hearts of Steelers fans with their win against the Ravens but things get nasty for San Diego as they now face the Patriots, Broncos, 49ers and Chiefs. If they upset the Patriots this weekend they might become the Super Bowl dark horse. If they lose? It could be the beginning of the end.
PROJECTED FINISH: 9-7
6th Seed – MIAMI DOLPHINS (7-5)
The Dolphins have a season-defining game against the Patriots still on their schedule as well as this week’s defensive battle against the Ravens. If they manage to win one of these two games they could put themselves in prime position to snatch the last Wildcard.
PROJECTED FINISH: 10-6
In The Hunt
7th Seed – KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (7-5)
This is no easy street for the Chiefs after dropping last weekend’s game to the Broncos. They have the Chargers still and tough away games against the Arizona Cardinals and the Steelers. This projection is probably the shakiest of all.
PROJECTED FINISH: 10-6
8th Seed – BUFFALO BILLS (7-5)
The Bills were everybody’s heroes in Pittsburgh after they offed the Brownies last weekend. But their stint in the playoff spotlight will be short lived with games left against the Broncos, Packers and Patriots. Worse, the Patriots loss to the Green Bay Packers means Belichick probably won’t be playing soft the last game of the season.
PROJECTED FINISH: 8-8
9th Seed – BALTIMORE RAVENS (7-5)
The loss to the Chargers was a crushing defeat for the Ravens. The Haloti Ngota PED suspension might be even more painful. But isn’t it just like the Ravens to win when everyone counts them out? Don’t expect them to tap out quite yet.
PROJECTED FINISH: 10-6
10th Seed – PITTSBURGH STEELERS (7-5)
Oh how the mighty have fallen! Down to a tenth seed and perhaps down as well to their last hope and prayer. The Steelers need to roll to keep the dream alive. One more “on any given Sunday” loss and it’s lights out Sally.
PROJECTED FINISH: 10-6
11th Seed – CLEVELAND BROWNS (7-5)
The Browns just lost their “must-win” against the Bills and even Johnny Football probably won’t be able to rescue them from this ditch. But, the return of Josh Gordon gives them a slim thread of hope.
PROJECTED FINISH: 9-7
12th Seed – HOUSTON TEXANS (6-6)
I can’t breathe! The oxygen is so thin down here. Can J.J. Watt play quarterback? No. Then you can forget about this pipe dream.
PROJECTED FINISH: 8-8
