Do or Die: Can Pittsburgh make a run at the playoffs?
By Juan Cabrera II
Can the Steelers win out the rest of their schedule and make a run at the playoffs?
YES, THEY WILL.
The Steelers find themselves in an interesting position, standing at 6-5 on the season thus far with 5 contests left while playoff contention hangs in the balance. This next month of December will prove to be trying indeed, yet a 5-0 record to close out the season does not seem so impossible with this offense.
First of all, superstar Antonio Brown just came off a beast game where he caught three touchdowns while Le’veon Bell continues to destroy opposing defenses.
In addition both Big Ben and Ladarius Green appear to be healthy coming off tough injuries. The offensive stars are set to continue their dominance with the last quarter of the season fast approaching.
Three games remain on the schedule for the Steelers:
- December 4th, home VS New York Giants-Win
- December 11th, @ Buffalo Bills-Win
- December 18th, @ Cincinatti Bengals
- December 25th, home VS Baltimore Ravens
- January 1st, home VS Cleveland Browns
While some appear to be tougher than others, each game is winnable, furthermore three of these five contests are home ate Hienz Field thus providing some home field advantage.
December 18, @ Cincinnati Bengals
Division rivalries always make for great football and Steelers VS Bengals is one of the best in the league. BUT not this time. The Bengals are in midst of a down season filled with losses and injuries. AJ Green and Giovanni Bernard are gone until next season and Andy Dalton has looked atrocious.
Oh and Marvin Lewis is STILL head coach.
Between Bell and Brown, the Steelers offensive will have no problem outscoring Dalton and and overwhelming their putrid defense.
Sorry Bengal fans, maybe next year…again.
December 25th, Baltimore Ravens
Their seems to be a misconception that Steelers vs Bengals is the top rivalry in football. Lets put that to rest right now, those tigers just got here.
Now Steelers VS Ravens, that is prime time, smash mouth football and on Christmas day? OUTSTANDING.
Joe Flacco and the Ravens just suffered a tough loss to New England and look to get back on track and beat Pittsburgh at home. Easier said then done.
Baltimore’s defense has proved to be formidable all season long, but loosing starting corner Jimmy Smith will free up Antonio Brown more so than the defense can handle, creating a domino effect for the rest of the Steelers offense.
Look for this game to be a slug fest where pittsburgh lasts longer and scores more.
January 1st, Cleveland Browns
Closing out the regular season with a division rival should make for great football, unless one is playing the Browns.
With all due respect to Joe Haden, Joe Thomas and others, this game will only be important to division standings. There is no way they can contain Brown, Bell and the rest of the offense.
Cleveland could very well go 0-16 this season hence a fireworks finale against a surging Steelers offense is near impossible. RG3 cant stay healthy and aside from Haden and Chandler Jones, the defense is a joke.
Next: Antonio Brown's Holiday Card
Look for this to be a blowout and Pittsburgh to carry its winning momentum all the way into the post-season.
Happy holidays and GO STEELERS!