The Pittsburgh Steelers enter their Week 18 regular-season finale in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals on a three-game shedding streak, and their hopes of profitable the AFC North are extremely slim. The Baltimore Ravens maintain the lead and are enjoying the 3-13 Cleveland Browns, who’re beginning QB Bailey Zappe, with the Steelers needing to beat the Bengals to safe not less than the No. 5 seed. Former Steelers S Ryan Clark stated on ESPN’s Get Up this morning that the Steelers appear like a “one-and-done group” however added that it will depend on who they play, and in the event that they get the No. 5 seed, they’ll go up in opposition to the struggling Houston Texans. Clark stated that Pittsburgh’s matchup in opposition to the Bengals now turns into “extraordinarily vital.”
“It appears like a one-and-done group relying on who they play, which signifies that tomorrow in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals is extraordinarily vital. We knew that three-game stretch in 11 days would inform us rather a lot about Mike Tomlin’s Steelers, understanding Philadelphia, Baltimore and Kansas Metropolis have been three of the highest groups within the NFL,” Clark stated. “And it wasn’t that they misplaced these video games, it was the way in which they misplaced these video games. Not having the ability to create any offense, turning the ball over, and completely getting ran via on the defensive facet of the soccer, which was the facet of the soccer that had been carrying the staff.”
It’s truthful to not have a lot religion within the Steelers proper now after they fell flat in opposition to three official contenders. However in addition they didn’t have WR George Pickens or S DeShon Elliott for 2 of these video games, and their largest challenge on the offensive facet of the ball has been turning the ball over. We’ve seen the Steelers play clear, turnover-free soccer, and their turnover woes are actually fixable.
There’s nonetheless a official query if the Steelers can grasp with the highest of the AFC although, and shedding to Cincinnati wouldn’t solely damage their seeding, as they might seemingly find yourself because the No. 6 seed and have to move to Baltimore to play the Ravens, but additionally be a momentum killer as Pittsburgh would enter the playoffs as losers of 4 straight.
It’s not all doom and gloom, although. The Steelers have had time to prepare for Cincinnati and work on fixing a few of their points, significantly their defensive communication, which has been terrible over the previous few video games. The Steelers who confirmed up over the past three video games aren’t a staff that’s going to beat anybody within the playoffs, however they aren’t a damaged staff. We’ve seen them play significantly better soccer this season, and with time to arrange and get wholesome, beating Cincinnati is one thing that ought to occur and provides the Steelers some juice and a few religion heading into what Mike Tomlin likes to name the single-elimination event.
