Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Steelers need plenty of help today if they want their postseason dreams to come true. Not only must the team win their upcoming game against the Cleveland Browns, they need three other teams to lose so they can lock up the AFC’s sixth and final playoff spot.
In spite of the long odds, outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley is trying to stay as optimistic as possible that his team will receive some much needed luck this afternoon:
Things a lot crazier than what needs 2 happen tmrw have happened.. and i think itll happen
— LaMarr Woodley (@LaMarrWoodley) December 28, 2013
Personally, I believe that the Cincinnati Bengals have a tremendous shot to end the postseason hopes of the Baltimore Ravens. Cincinnati will be fighting for a postseason bye, and I am sure that the Bengals would like to play another team besides a familiar foe like Baltimore on Wild Card Weekend as well.
In addition, I would not count out the New York Jets in their game against the Miami Dolphins either. The Dolphins were blanked last weekend (19-0) when they played the lowly Buffalo Bills, and the Jets showed signs of life when they crushed the Cleveland Browns. Sheldon Richardson (3.5 sacks), Muhammad Wilkerson (10.5 sacks) and Calvin Pace (10.0) could cause plenty of problems for Miami’s offensive line, so I could see a potential upset on the horizon.
Although I am confident and optimistic that the Bengals and Jets could do the Steelers huge solids, I have little faith that the Kansas City Chiefs will do the same. Andy Reid has hinted about resting his starter during tomorrow’s game versus the San Diego Chargers, and I for one cannot blame him.
Granted, the struggling Chiefs (2-4 over last six games) could stand to get back in a groove before they head into postseason play. Moreover, it would not hurt them to keep another AFC West opponent out of the playoffs. Sadly, the Chiefs are locked into the fifth seed in the AFC, have already secured a postseason berth and their head coach can do whatever he wants.
Until either the Ravens, Dolphins or Chargers emerge victorious, the Steelers’ postseason hopes and dreams will still stay afloat. Reservations about Kansas City coming through aside, I will stay as optimistic as possible that things will break Pittsburgh’s way this afternoon.
At this point, hope is all that the Steelers have.
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