Steelers to Playoffs: Write it Down

I can already hear Jim Mora in my head.  “Playoffs!?!?? Playoffs!?!?!?! We’re talking about playoffs!??!”

          Yes. Yes I’m talking about playoffs.  The 2012 NFL playoffs that the Steelers WILL participate in. Write it down.  No I am not smoking my NFL schedule or drinking any version of  “the Kool-Aid”  Get down off of the railing up on Mt.Washington…no need to jump. All we be well.  Til January anyway.

          Here are the reasons you and I will be sitting in great pain in front of our televisions as the Steelers get bounced in the first round of the NFL playoffs yet again this season.  Remember last year? When Jesus beat the Steelers? Left handed? Yeah….I couldn’t forget it either.  And Lord (Tebow) knows,  I tried.

          Anyway…in no particular order, here are the reasons the Steelers WILL make the playoffs.

1.     DEFENSE.   In case you haven’t noticed, in the past month or so the Steeler defense has been incredible!!! They almost single handedly won two of the last three debacles…..No matter where the offense put them on the field they held the line and gave up the minimal amount of points…..12 quarters of pure shut down defense.

They were one Baltimore punt return and one or five turnovers and penalties in Cleveland away from taking all three.

All this WITHOUT a defensive player of the year - Troy (and yesterday without Woodley……. Worilds has been amazing filling in spots like that btw…..)

We’re not getting the turnovers but they are #1 in the NFL for a reason….and yesterday’s INT return for a TD WAS a pretty big turnover.

I think they will torture Rivers, Romo, Dalton, and Weeden to end the season. (I left out Flacco…Dealing with Rice makes it extra tough to get to him. But we did keep the Ravens in check at home last week.)

 

This defense gives you a chance to win ANY game...no matter who your QB is...

2.     SCHEDULE.   At Balt, SD, at Dallas, Cinc, Cleveland

Call me crazy but I see 4-1....3-2 at worst. (See Ben stipulation later.)

As of right now we hold the last spot in the playoff hunt…tied with Cincinnati, who we have already beaten on the road. A full game behind at least are teams like Miami…and well…….Miami.  That and  Indianapolis is holding onto #5…barely. Theyalso still have to play Houston twice.

At Balt – If you think there was panic in the ‘burgh today, imagine next week when we fall to .500 by losing again to the Ravens.  I don’t see that as a lock.  Our defense can keep us in any game, and if we can cut about 5 turnovers off of last weeks count we may have a chance….but for realism's sake I’ll call it another loss….but a message sending loss either way.  I see Cincy losing to SD next week and keeping it all even anyway.

San Diego at home.  Yes. San Diego. Here. In Pittsburgh. In December. In the words of the great Ron Burgundy, “Go fuck yourself  San Diego.”  Thanks for all the help yesterday against Baltimore. Rivers you're not even as good as Ben when he has a bum shoulder...and a vulnerable aorta....and a baby. Steelers by 14.

At Dallas.  Look, Dallas sucks this year. Did you see them on thanksgiving? Romo is a walking interception and we will pick him at least twice. He hasn't been the same since Kelly Clarkston.  They’re done and Jerry Jones will have designs on an early draft pick by then.  We are 3-0 against the NFC East this year…and Dallas isn’t much better than Philly right now. Steelers by 4 at least…..8-6 with 2 to go at home. 

Cincinnati at home. Looking at the Bengals schedule it is near identical to the Steelers except Cincinnati has to play Baltimore the last game of the season....we get Cleveland.  So either way this is THE game that will determine things most likely.  We beat them handily AT Cincy and will do so again. WITH Baltimore playing the Bengals as an insurance policy in the following week as I said, I feel pretty good.  9-6.

Cleveland at home. TimTebow willing we will have a full squad and…well….payback is a bitch Cleveland. Enjoy another end of the year beating.  Win. Easy. Steelers 10-6……9-7 at worst and IN the playoffs.

 

3.     BEN. Of course all the above is predicated on Ben returning at SOME point.  If he does…and he always does….The Steelers will always have a chance to win any game, anywhere, against any opponent with #7…..without this injury I think he walks away with League MVP and may STILL.  Whatever you think of him as a person “before baby”, he is the man. Period.  With him the last two weeks we’re not even having this conversation and are talking division and playoff home game.

4.     Injuries.  Or HEALING injuries I should say. It has to even out...right?

     As mentioned above if Ben heals all is well.  Antonio Brown? Nuf said…..What if Troy returns rested?? Gilbert? Colon? Woodley? A healthy NON fumbling Mendenhall? Adams?  (Remember the season starting off by losing our first round pick Decastro for the season?)

     Cmon folks….if this team was complete (sounds like the Penguins!) then I see no problems.

          So there are my reasons.  I still feel confident and want to shoot about 2 out of  every three callers on Sports Talk shows….idiots.  Some guy today was saying we should have gotten Shanahan instead of Tomlin 4 yrs ago and we'd have MORE rings...…..Wow….

          Now all of this said, I think these past 3 weeks, and losses to Oakland and Tennesseed earlier (really?) HAVE cost us dearly.  Specifically I think these losses have kept us out of talk of a Super Bowl.  Going on the road to Denver, New England, and Houston (a likely playoff scenario),  and coming out on the other end is a tall tall task….even for #7 and a healthy defense.  But hey….after all that has happened this month I’m looking forward to it.  I’ll threaten to jump off a bridge and fight people as usual….but I’ll climb back down and get ready for the Pirates like I do every year…..

          But until then Mr. Mora……YES I am talking about the playoffs.  Bookmark this page….(the new “Write it down” phrase)……Steelers at Denver for a rematch in round one in January…..and with no Tebow….and revenge of last year and week 1 in mind…..look out Mr. Manning. You may be rehearsing with that asshole from PaPa Johns for Super Bowl commercials earlier than you think.

           Enjoy the ride Pittsburgh.  Those of you who haven't jumped.