There was a day when simply rooting for the Pittsburgh Steelers to make the playoffs was more than a pipe dream. But this squad continues to prove week in and week out that they don't belong anywhere near the postseason based on the results we have seen this year.
Even with a pair of defensive touchdowns and a safety from the special teams this season, Pittsburgh is still mustering up a dismal 15.9 points per game while surrendering 20 points per contest to their opponents. Somehow, even these ugly numbers don't show just how horrifying this team has been to watch at times this year.
Pittsburgh's playoff hopes hang by a thread, and they probably will get flattened if they somehow find a way to make it into the postseason. So forget about the playoffs for a minute. There is still reason to watch the Steelers take on the Bengals in Week 16. Here are three things we should all be rooting for.
T.J. Watt chasing the 20-sack mark, DPOY award
I know this is just a personal accolade, and T.J. Watt's production isn't magically going to make the Pittsburgh Steelers a great football team. However, players like Watt only come around on any given franchise once in a blue moon, and Watt continues to chase history.
Entering the Week 16 contest against the Bengals, Watt currently leads the NFL with 16.0 sacks. Following a two-sack performance against the Colts last week, he also significantly boosted his odds to win Defensive Player of the Year.
It's still unlikely that Watt will earn his second DPOY award with Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons having such strong seasons with top defenses. However, hitting the 20-sack mark for the second time in his career is something that most players can only dream of. This could be an excellent mark on his Hall of Fame resume.