AFC North: Steelers in Jeopardy of Missing Playoffs
The Pittsburgh Steelers lost in week 12 to the hapless Cleveland Browns 20-14. The loss was devastating to the Steelers and has put their playoff hope in jeopardy. The Steelers are now 6-5 on the season and trail first place Baltimore by three games and have a lot of work to do if they hope to make the playoffs. Pittsburgh has only five games in which to turn around the season and try to make the postseason.
Pittsburgh must try to win all five games they have remaining on the schedule. If they complete the season 5-0, then their overall record would be 11-5. With a weak AFC this season, they should get into the playoffs at 11-6.
However, if they loss one game that makes it all the more difficult at 10-6. At this time, the two teams that are competing for the wildcard with the Steelers are Indianapolis and Cincinnati. Both teams have not looked unbeatable, but they are winning the games they need to and with some regularity. After week twelve of the season, Indianapolis leads the race at 7-4, while Cincinnati is tied with Pittsburgh at 6-5. The next closest team is Miami at 5-6.
Slowly but surely the Steelers season is falling apart thanks in big part to injuries. The offense had worked hard early in the season as the defense did not get off to a good start. However, with Ben Roethlisberger hurt and the offense in a tailspin, the defense has not come to their rescue.
If Pittsburgh were to win out and end 11-5, that would qualify them since the Bengals would lose one game as they play head to head and would end the season 10-6.
The Steelers must remain healthy going forward and get Roethlisberger back as soon as they can which they hope will be this weekend when they travel to Baltimore.
However, many are worried the Steelers QB could go down with another injury and be lost for the season. The Ravens will do all they can within the rules of the game to knock Roethlisberger out of the game.
If the Steelers have another injury to a key player on the team then it will be very difficult for them to be competitive heading down the home stretch. Just losing to the Browns was evidence of that. The Browns are one of the two or three worst teams in the league and Pittsburgh could not defeat them.
The Steelers lost by six points even though they had 8 turnovers in the game. One less turnover or one more drive for a score and the Steelers would be 7-4.
This weekend’s game against Baltimore is very important, as it would give Pittsburgh hope of possibly catching the Ravens for the division as the Ravens schedule is much tougher the last four games than the Steelers is.
One of the biggest keys to the Steelers making the post season is to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals when they meet two days before Christmas. That win might be enough to offset a possible loss to Baltimore and still give the Steelers a lead over Cincinnati.
Of course, along with injuries hurting the team, mistakes have done their share of damage. Pittsburgh’s turnover ratio is a dismal -10 this season and they have the worst ratio of any team that is playing over .500.
End the injuries, stop the mistakes, add some spice to the offense, keep Roethlisberger healthy and the Steelers will make the postseason. Not a simple task by any means.
