Steelers: Is Week 13 a must win game?
By Jack Tolman
With a tough stretch of games upcoming for the Pittsburgh Steelers, could this week’s Sunday night game against Indianapolis be a must win, or should it be looked at as just another game?
All season, I’ve held myself back from pushing any panic buttons, but following an ugly loss to Seattle, pushing us back in the wild card race, and threatening our entire season, my hand has gradually gravitated toward that forsaken button.
The season overall has not been pretty. The Steelers have experienced and muddled through multiple injuries to key players, suspensions, and arguably the toughest schedule in the league.
Through the first 12 weeks, the Steelers have survived with a 6-5 record, but it’s simply not enough in the competitive playoff picture.
With teams emerging late in the season, like the Kansas City Chiefs, and Houston Texans, both riding lengthy winning streaks, the Steelers must find a way to win as many games as possible, and hope that the teams they’re competing with drop a couple.
Sadly, the next four weeks are compiled of grueling match ups with 3 teams likely playoff bound.
First up, and likely the weakest of the four super powers, the Indianapolis Colts.
Aug 22, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Hasselback (8) hands the ball off to running back Josh Robinson (34) against the Chicago Bears during a pre season game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
The Colts are one of the most mysterious teams this season. Pinned as a potential Super Bowl candidate early on, Indianapolis got off to an ugly start, but has managed to go on a 3 game winning streak behind back up quarterback, and 40 year old, Matt Hasselbeck.
With the Colts on a hot streak, and competing furiously with Houston in the AFC South, this weekend’s game is one of the most pivotal match ups of 2015 for both teams.
With a Colts loss, they could drop down into the wild card race, assuming the Texans can extend their win streak. If that’s the case, it’s important that Pittsburgh has the tiebreaker against Indianapolis, and not the other way around.
Following the Colts, the Steelers have bouts against Cincinnati, and Denver (Who just toppled the defending champion Patriots). Side Note: quarterback Brock Osweiler is now 2-0 as a starter in the NFL, and while there is word that Manning will be ready to play against Pittsburgh, it’ll be interesting to see who they select to play the game.
Both those teams only have two losses this season, and the Bengals have already beaten Pittsburgh, so victories can not be counted on too much in those games.
So is this game against Indianapolis a must win?
I hate to say it, but I think it is.
Some could even argue that the last game against the Seahawks was a must win, but I feel that’s a bit harsh, given the look of the standings right now.
The Chiefs, Texans, and Jets, all the teams that the Steelers are mainly competing don’t have nearly as tough schedules as the Steelers, and all currently have a leg up on Pittsburgh. With this week’s game being one of the easier down the stretch, it’s important that Pittsburgh pulls out on top to keep pace.
Lucky for Pittsburgh, the Steelers finish the season with divisional games against the Ravens and Browns, and while both teams tend to play them tough, the Steelers should be able to come out on top, as long as everyone is healthy at that point.
But that being said, the Steelers need to win at least 3, if not 4 of the final 5 games if they want to secure a wild card spot, with the division probably out of reach. If the Steelers can only lose 1 or 2 games for the rest of the year, they better hope one of them isn’t this week.
Are the Steelers eliminated if they lose? No. But with how the schedules look, and how all the teams are playing right now, they’d be put far behind if they don’t get the win this week, and a win would truly put them in magnificent position for a playoff run.
Chances are, at the end of the season, win or lose, playoffs or no playoffs, this is a game that Steelers fans will look back on and say, “This is the game that defined the Steeler’s season”
On a final note, let’s all hope Ben Roethlisberger to healthy enough to go. As much as I believe Landry Jones can be the guy at times, I believe just as much that he sometimes flusters, and in the first prime time start of his career, who knows what would come of the young gunslinger.