Why not the Steelers? They’re capable
PITTSBURGH – Linebacker Vince Williams said last week that the Steelers would not be content to just make the playoffs. They didn’t want to wobble into the postseason. They wanted to kick the door down.
Consider the mission accomplished.
The Steelers showed Sunday night that they will be a factor in the AFC postseason, having their way with the Cincinnati Bengals in a 27-17 victory at Heinz Field for a sweep of their season series.
The win gave the Steelers a 5-1 record against playoff teams. Yes, they didn’t play the top two seeds in either the AFC or NFC, but the Steelers didn’t make their schedule.
Besides, looking at the rest of the AFC, only New England (4-1) had a winning record against other playoff teams. Denver, the No. 2 seed, was 2-3. The Bengals were 3-4-1 and Baltimore and Indianapolis were each 2-4.
So why not the Steelers?
With this offense, which includes the NFL’s leading receiver in Antonio Brown, leading passer in Ben Roethlisberger and second-leading rusher in Le’Veon Bell, and you have a dangerous group capable of making a deep run into the postseason.
Of course, that might have changed late in the third quarter when Bell took a shot on his right knee from safety Reggie Nelson at the end of a 19-yard reception.
With Bell, the Steelers are a very good team. They’re 19-10 in games he’s started.
“He’s a tremendous part of what we do and I just really hope that he can be with us for next week,” said Brown.
Without Bell in the lineup? Well, all we know is that they are 0-3 in that scenario.
Bell wasn’t the team MVP this season for no reason.
“I know if there’s a chance to be out there, he’s going to be out there because that’s how he is,” said Roethlisberger, who played despite battling the flu.
New England is the cream of the crop in the AFC and unquestionably the favorite, but the Steelers might be the best of the rest of the field, including Peyton Manning and Denver.
Pittsburgh enters the postseason having won their past four games and eight of 10.
That’s as hot as any team in the NFL – other than Seattle – can claim to be.
The Achilles’ heel of the Steelers was expected to be their defense. But over the past month, the defense has turned from soft to an opportunistic group capable of making game-changing plays. And that might be the difference in the long run.
Certainly, the offense can play with any team. But with a defense that is at least proving it can force turnovers – as it did again against the Bengals with cornerback Brice McCain providing a pair of first-half interceptions – and getting to the quarterback, this defense might be able to do just enough.
“We showed the league that we will capitalize on turnovers,” said corner Antwon Blake, who forced and recovered an A.J. Green fumble in the fourth quarter to help preserve the win.
It might not be what Pittsburgh fans are accustomed to seeing from the Steelers, but as they proved throughout this season, it can still be a winning formula. At least it has been in recent years for Green Bay, Indianapolis and New Orleans, each riding great offenses and average or below-average defenses to Super Bowl titles.
But even if this season doesn’t end in a Super Bowl, it has to be considered a success.
After back-to-back 8-8 seasons that ended without playoff appearances, the Steelers needed to take a positive step. They have done that.
F. Dale Lolley can be reached at dlolley@observer-reporter.com.