Steelers Still Control Their Playoff Destiny
By Mike Drakulich, Pittsburgh SportsNation
They had just been humbled at home by a lousy 4-9 team, the icing on the cake of an implosion of epic proportions, the latest loss being their fifth out the last six.
They were 7-7 and off season vacation plans were already being made, right?
Wrong.
Instead of falling down and dying like the decrepit team they had become, the New York Giants found the inner strength that had been there all along and found a way to win the their final two games to finish at 9-7.
They were in the playoffs.
The rest was history as the Giants took their opportunity and ran with it all the way to winning Super Bowl XLVI 21-17 over the New England Patriots.
Fast forward ten months later, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are sitting at 7-7 after another 4th quarter collapse to a team they should have beaten. The loss to the Dallas Cowboys was their fourth defeat out of the past five. Five of their dismal loses have come to teams with a combined 27-43 record.
Dreadful, to say the least.
Unlike the Giants of a year ago, who needed a few favors to fall their way to clinch a playoff berth, the Steelers actually control their destiny.
Quite simply, the playoffs have already begun for Pittsburgh.
One loss again, and their season is over.
But, if the Steelers defeat both the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday, and the Cleveland Browns the following week, they are in.
To boot, if the Baltimore Ravens find a way to lose their last two games to the New York Giants and the very same Bengals, by virtue of the tiebreakers associated with a three team tie breaker, the Steelers would actually win the division over the hated Ravens.
Imagine that. A home playoff game to start the 2012 NFL Playoffs for the Steelers, who would face either the Indianapolis Colts...or the Ravens once-more for the ultimate rubber match.
Right now, Steelers fans have a right to feel hopeless about their team's fortunes. Even with the cookie dangling of only having the beat the Bengals and Browns, two teams that the Steelers have absolutely dominated, there is a sense of dread surrounding this year's team.
Instead of finding ways to win like they've done so many times during the Ben Roethisberger Era, this team finds ways to lose--and in grand fashion.
Blowing a 10 point 4th quarter lead vs the hapless Oakland Raiders.
Failing to convert an easy 3rd down conversion to salt away the woeful Tennessee Titans.
Eight. Count 'em 8 turnovers vs the Browns.
Getting crushed at home by a listless San Diego Chargers team.
A fumble on a punt return in the 4th quarter with the Steelers in command over the Cowboys.
It's mind boggling.
Funny thing is, the same detraction's were being harped upon the NY Giants last year, too.
The light came on for last year's Giants, and not a second too soon. Entering week 16, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a chance to redeem themselves by learning from their past mistakes, and finding a way of using the immense talent that this team actually has bestowed on it's roster.
In 2005, then head coach Bill Cowher found a way to bring his troops together, en route to winning their final 8 games to win the Steelers first Super Bowl in 25 years. It was by far Cowher's best coaching effort of his career. He found a way to make his team believe that impossible was possible.
Now Steeler's head coach Mike Tomlin faces similar circumstances in bringing together a group of under achievers, and in coach Tomlin's words, "The standard is the standard."
This organization doesn't settle for mediocrity. They expect to compete for the Super Bowl year in and year out.
When 1pm arrives this Sunday for kickoff vs the Bengals, we will indeed find out what this team is made of.
Mike Drakulich covers Pittsburgh sports for Pittsburgh SportsNation on Facebook. Subscribe to PSN's feeds today and follow him on Twitter @PghSportsNation
They had just been humbled at home by a lousy 4-9 team, the icing on the cake of an implosion of epic proportions, the latest loss being their fifth out the last six.
They were 7-7 and off season vacation plans were already being made, right?
Wrong.
Instead of falling down and dying like the decrepit team they had become, the New York Giants found the inner strength that had been there all along and found a way to win the their final two games to finish at 9-7.
They were in the playoffs.
The rest was history as the Giants took their opportunity and ran with it all the way to winning Super Bowl XLVI 21-17 over the New England Patriots.
Fast forward ten months later, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are sitting at 7-7 after another 4th quarter collapse to a team they should have beaten. The loss to the Dallas Cowboys was their fourth defeat out of the past five. Five of their dismal loses have come to teams with a combined 27-43 record.
Dreadful, to say the least.
Unlike the Giants of a year ago, who needed a few favors to fall their way to clinch a playoff berth, the Steelers actually control their destiny.
Quite simply, the playoffs have already begun for Pittsburgh.
One loss again, and their season is over.
But, if the Steelers defeat both the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday, and the Cleveland Browns the following week, they are in.
To boot, if the Baltimore Ravens find a way to lose their last two games to the New York Giants and the very same Bengals, by virtue of the tiebreakers associated with a three team tie breaker, the Steelers would actually win the division over the hated Ravens.
Imagine that. A home playoff game to start the 2012 NFL Playoffs for the Steelers, who would face either the Indianapolis Colts...or the Ravens once-more for the ultimate rubber match.
Right now, Steelers fans have a right to feel hopeless about their team's fortunes. Even with the cookie dangling of only having the beat the Bengals and Browns, two teams that the Steelers have absolutely dominated, there is a sense of dread surrounding this year's team.
Instead of finding ways to win like they've done so many times during the Ben Roethisberger Era, this team finds ways to lose--and in grand fashion.
Blowing a 10 point 4th quarter lead vs the hapless Oakland Raiders.
Failing to convert an easy 3rd down conversion to salt away the woeful Tennessee Titans.
Eight. Count 'em 8 turnovers vs the Browns.
Getting crushed at home by a listless San Diego Chargers team.
A fumble on a punt return in the 4th quarter with the Steelers in command over the Cowboys.
It's mind boggling.
Funny thing is, the same detraction's were being harped upon the NY Giants last year, too.
The light came on for last year's Giants, and not a second too soon. Entering week 16, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a chance to redeem themselves by learning from their past mistakes, and finding a way of using the immense talent that this team actually has bestowed on it's roster.
In 2005, then head coach Bill Cowher found a way to bring his troops together, en route to winning their final 8 games to win the Steelers first Super Bowl in 25 years. It was by far Cowher's best coaching effort of his career. He found a way to make his team believe that impossible was possible.
Now Steeler's head coach Mike Tomlin faces similar circumstances in bringing together a group of under achievers, and in coach Tomlin's words, "The standard is the standard."
This organization doesn't settle for mediocrity. They expect to compete for the Super Bowl year in and year out.
When 1pm arrives this Sunday for kickoff vs the Bengals, we will indeed find out what this team is made of.
Mike Drakulich covers Pittsburgh sports for Pittsburgh SportsNation on Facebook. Subscribe to PSN's feeds today and follow him on Twitter @PghSportsNation
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