The Steelers are in a unique situation this Sunday. If they win their game against the Browns in Cleveland, they'll win the AFC North title, earn the number 2 seed, at least one home playoff game, and a first round bye. If they lose, they'll more than likely miss out on the division crown and fall all the way to the 6th seed and will not only have to play the following week, but they'd be on the road throughout the playoffs.
The Ravens, who are tied with the Steelers at 11-4, are at home against the hapless Bengals to finish the season so I doubt Pittsburgh would get any help from Cincinnati. And the Jets are playing at home against the even more hapless Buffalo Bills and hold a tiebreaker over Pittsburgh and would get the 5th seed if they finish with the same record as the Steelers.
This truly is a playoff game for Pittsburgh. The road to the Super Bowl is much easier for a team when they can stay at home rather than actually travel on the road. And when I say at home, I'm also referring to their actual homes during the wild card round. Yes, teams can make it to the Super Bowl from that wild card spot (heck, the Steelers did it just five seasons ago,) but the odds are much better for teams that earn byes.
A lot of people are worried about this game and think the Browns will have incentive because of the rivalry. The Browns, and their fans, would like nothing more than to knock the Steelers down a few pegs and do great damage to their Super Bowl chances for a second-consecutive season. Last year, Cleveland defeated the Steelers in a late season Thursday night contest that all but eliminated Pittsburgh from the playoffs. This year, they can make Pittsburgh's road to the Super Bowl a very hazardous one.
But the fact of the matter is, rivalry or not, the Browns aren't in the same class as the Steelers. No matter what Cleveland's motives are for this game, the Steelers are a class or two above them and if they're the team we think they are, they should go into Cleveland and take care of business.
Super Bowl teams do not lose games like this. It's just that simple. Pittsburgh is a team with vast playoff experience and should really have no problem with the Browns.
With so much at stake for our Black and Gold, I expect nothing less than a three-score blowout on Sunday.
As I said, this truly is a unique situation. Usually, in cases like this, teams with 11-4 records already have their divisions wrapped up and are just fighting for seeding if anything. Even if a team loses the coveted bye week, they still get to play their wildcard game at home. That means revenue for the team owner and the local businesses.
The players and coaches aren't the only ones who recognize what's on the line this week, the Rooneys are probably feeling the pressure of this Sunday, as well. Don't think that Dan and the gang won't be a little upset if the team loses out on all the revenue that would be generated with at least one playoff game at Heinz field.
It's one thing for the fans and media to be critical, but it's quite another when your boss is upset that you took money out of his pockets.
Like I said, there is a lot at stake this week.
But at least the Steelers are already in "the dance." Their tickets are punched to the postseason regardless of what happens on Sunday. At least they'll still have a chance.
I'm sure teams like the Jaguars, Buccaneers, and Giants would trade places with the Steelers in a heartbeat. Not only do those teams need to win on Sunday, but they need a TON of help just to make it to the postseason.
It's like with the Winter Classic game between the Penguins and Capitals this Saturday. Some people already have tickets and they're just worried about getting there and finding a place to park. They wish they had better seats, but oh well (Steelers fighting for that bye.) But I have a lot of friends that don't have tickets to the event and would gladly pay any amount just to get into Heinz Field and don't care where they sit. They'd gladly sell their teeth for a chance to be there (Bucs, Giants and Jags.)
From a fans point of view, I'd much rather see my team in the position that the Steelers are in this year than the position those teams are in. Those teams on the bubble are in the same position that Pittsburgh was in last year. And that's not a good place to be.
So no matter what happens on Sunday, at least the Steelers will be attending the postseason dance.
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