3 Steelers X-factors for must win game vs Jets

The Steelers are in must-win mode for the rest of the season. At 8-6, they control their own destiny for the playoffs and it starts in week 16 against New York.

The Steelers would be in better position had they won week 15’s match-up against the Buffalo Bills. As we all know, they failed to do so and now getting in the playoffs will be much more difficult.

Even being able to write the Steelers’ playoff chances in an article at this point in the season after losing Ben Roethlisberger and the other injuries and adversity they have faced is amazing. However, the Steelers still have to take care of the Jets this week or they are most likely not going to make it.

It was a rough game for the offense against the Buffalo Bills in week 15. The defense continually put them in positions to win but, with five turnovers and an awful punt by Jordan Berry, the offense couldn’t get the job done.

The offense needs a much better game this week so our X-factors will be littered with offensive players. The team is getting JuJu Smith-Schuster back but no one, including him, knows how well his knee is going to hold up with it not being 100 percent healthy.

The Steelers could use all the help they can get from him along with the rest of the receivers to help make Devlin Hodges‘ job easier. Hodges will also have to learn from last week and make better decisions with the football if they want to keep themselves alive in the AFC playoff hunt.