It's a 4 game season, and it starts with the Chargers!

[zulater]

While I'd love for the Steelers to beat the Ravens next Sunday. Even if Ben plays, and even if he's relatively healthy, I just don't see that as a win. The Ravens are virtually unbeatable in their building. They certainly don't beat themselves there. And face it, even in our best games this year we tend to shoot ourselves in the foot several times a game. ( first half of Giants and Bengals game's come to mind here) You can't do that In Baltimore and expect to have any chance to get back in it.

Anyway if we end up 6-6 after next week the season's far from over. Because the rules state that two teams from the AFC have to be awarded Wild Card playoff berths. Even if none of the earn it!

Essentially it comes down to this. Our real season starts with our Dec 9th home game against the Chargers. We have to win that one. And we'll have to beat the Bengals and Browns ( both also at Heinz) and no matter what we do against the Cowboys we'll make the playoffs!

Basically if Ben returns to action and plays at the level we expect from him we should go no worse than 3-1 in our final four games. And that should be enough.

[BlastFurnace]

Good synopsis Zu.

Our season comes down to Ben. If Ben comes back healthy enough to play, maybe.

If Ben's injury is like Troy's....getting better, but never able to play....this team might win one more game this season.

[X-Terminator]

I'm not conceding anything next week, because if there is one thing I do know about this team, it's that they tend to rise to the occasion against good teams when everyone else writes them off. It's the complete opposite of the frustration they give us whenever they play against bad teams. So if the Ravens win next week, they are going to have to earn it.

[GoSlash27]

I'm not conceding anything next week, because if there is one thing I do know about this team, it's that they tend to rise to the occasion against good teams when everyone else writes them off. It's the complete opposite of the frustration they give us whenever they play against bad teams. So if the Ravens win next week, they are going to have to earn it.

Yup. Anyone who's ever comfortable predicting the outcome of a Steeler game clearly hasn't been paying attention. We can beat any team in this league, regardless of injuries or anything else. And we can also lose to any team, no matter how pathetic that team happens to be. Generally we alternate from one week to the next.
I'm not writing off Baltimore.

[Count Steeler]

I didn't watch the game today, but from what I heard, it was gruesome. Nonetheless, I think the Baltimore Steelers will show up next week. The Cleveland Steelers will stay in Cleveland. After that, the Playoff Steelers better start to surface. 10-6, we are probably in. Maybe even 9-7. However, I would sure like to start to get on a roll.

[Moose]

Damn, you guys must have watched a different team play the brown's than I did. Our offense stunk today... what was the average yard per carry. How many 3rd down conversions. 8 turnovers with 5 of them fumbles by RBs. This team should have been blown out today. I'm not sure how in the hell we even scored anything. Was there anyone who DIDN'T fumble ? Oh yea, Heath I think did play good, he's the only one I didn't see sitting on the bench getting yelled at. Pathetic. And Count....I didn't understand a fukkin thing you said, sorry, I just don't see any other team showing up in Baltimore than the buffoons we saw in Cleveland.

[polamalubeast]

It's a 5 game season....

[Steelermania]

We are not going to win any tiebreakers based on conference record, so conference games don't mean anything at this point. We need three more wins. One must be against Cincy, as they are our main competition for a spot, and a win would give us the tiebreaker over them. Doesn't really matter who the other 2 wins are over. Miami is still alive, but with 2 games left vs the patriots, and a game at San Fran, they really have little chance. The Bengals are the competition.

[st33lersguy]

They are better off losing all of their games and getting a good draft pick. This season is lost and nothing will be worse than going 9-7, missing the playoffs and ending up with the 19th or 20th pick. This is a team that lost to a sad sack of garbage that calls itself a football team in the Cleveland Clowns, one of the NFL's three worst teams,a team that is probably going to finish 3-13.

[zulater]

We are not going to win any tiebreakers based on conference record, so conference games don't mean anything at this point. We need three more wins. One must be against Cincy, as they are our main competition for a spot, and a win would give us the tiebreaker over them. Doesn't really matter who the other 2 wins are over. Miami is still alive, but with 2 games left vs the patriots, and a game at San Fran, they really have little chance. The Bengals are the competition.

There's a very good chance both teams playoff lives will be decided in Pittsburgh on December 23.

[Count Steeler]

And Count....I didn't understand a fukkin thing you said, sorry, I just don't see any other team showing up in Baltimore than the buffoons we saw in Cleveland.

We seem to always play to the level of our competition. So I have started using the other teams name followed by the Steelers. The Cleveland Steelers play like Cleveland. The Baltimore Steelers play to the level of the Ravens.

Sorry, I am not ready to blow up the season just yet. I think we will play impressively in Baltimore and we will have a chance to win the game.

[zulater]

They are better off losing all of their games and getting a good draft pick. This season is lost and nothing will be worse than going 9-7, missing the playoffs and ending up with the 19th or 20th pick. This is a team that lost to a sad sack of garbage that calls itself a football team in the Cleveland Clowns, one of the NFL's three worst teams,a team that is probably going to finish 3-13.

Teams that lose to improve draft placement usually end up drafting Jamarcus Rusell like players.

I don't care if we're 6-9 going into the season finale, I want to win that game!

Draft placement is overrated. Orginizational excellence and providing incoming talent with a winning atmosphere and attitude trumps draft placement every single time!

[Steelermania]

There's a very good chance both teams playoff lives will be decided in Pittsburgh on December 23.

I agree. The other thing I'm hoping for, is that if we sneak in, our first game will be vs none other than the Rats. The Rats are sitting in the 2 spot right now, but they have a very tough schedule down the stretch, and will have a hard time avoiding falling into the number 3 or 4 spot. Few things would be more satisfying than ending their season, and possibly the Stabbinkillerman's career, in front of their home crowd.

[Count Steeler]

If we make the playoffs, somehow we will be playing at Denver.

[tube517]

As bad as they played, I won't give up anything because of the defense. Now, the OL is getting the annual injuries so it's all on Ben now.

[zulater]

I agree. The other thing I'm hoping for, is that if we sneak in, our first game will be vs none other than the Rats. The Rats are sitting in the 2 spot right now, but they have a very tough schedule down the stretch, and will have a hard time avoiding falling into the number 3 or 4 spot. Few things would be more satisfying than ending their season, and possibly the Stabbinkillerman's career, in front of their home crowd.

Better there than Denver! That's for sure. As great as Ryan Clark is playing it would really suck to lose him for the first game of the playoffs once again.

- - - Updated - - -

If we make the playoffs, somehow we will be playing at Denver.

Oh God I hope not. After Ben, Ryan Clark is the Steelers MVP in my opinion. Losing him in the first round once again would really suck. Of course it wouldn't suck nearly as bad as missing the playoffs entirely.

[Psycho Ward 86]

Were 2-1 in their building with Ben at the helm since 2008 when this became a true rivalry. This is winnable. IF and only if, we get some of our guys healthy, especially Ben, Brown, Colon, Woodley, and maybe it seems like a surprise return of Polamalu?

[43Hitman]

I agree Zu. Anything short of our 06 run to get into the playoffs and the team will be watching from their couch's this year. Preacher's 2 on and 1 off theory seems to be playing out yet again.

[BlastFurnace]

Were 2-1 in their building with Ben at the helm since 2008 when this became a true rivalry. This is winnable. IF and only if, we get some of our guys healthy, especially Ben, Brown, Colon, Woodley, and maybe it seems like a surprise return of Polamalu?

I agree with all of the players you stated but Woodley. Wordlis has played better than Woodley this season.