Jan 1, 2016 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – It’s only natural for NFL players to keep an eye on scores when they need some help to make the playoffs.

While some Steelers said they wouldn’t watch the scoreboard Sunday to see what’s happening across Lake Erie, where the Buffalo Bills will host the New York Jets, as they face the Browns in Cleveland, that will be easier said than done.

“We have to take care of our business first,” said Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. “If we do that, then we have to just watch and wait. It’s our own fault that we don’t control our own destiny, so we just have to go do everything we can to get ourselves in.”

The Steelers (9-6) go into Sunday’s game at Cleveland (3-12) needing a win and a loss by the Jets (10-5) at Buffalo (7-8) to get into the playoffs.

They can only hope the Bills, who are eliminated from postseason contention, are as motivated as Baltimore was last Sunday against the Steelers, when the Ravens played one of their best games of the season in a 20-17 win over Pittsburgh.

Buffalo has won four in a row against the Jets, including 22-17 victory in New York earlier this season.

Steelers inside linebacker Vince Williams has some inside information on the Bills. His younger brother, Karlos, will start at running back for the Buffalo in place of LeSean McCoy, who is dealing with a knee injury.

“He said they’re going to do their thing,” said Williams, who talks to his younger brother at least once a week during the season. “He said they want to do a solid for Rex (Ryan). Rex got fired. They’re looking to get some payback for their head coach.”

Ryan was fired as head coach by the Jets last offseason and was hired quickly by Buffalo.

One of the moves Ryan made in the preseason was to release cornerback Ross Cockrell, a 2014 fourth-round draft pick of the Bills.

Cockrell signed with the Steelers and has become a solid contributor. He leads Pittsburgh with 10 pass breakups and also contributed a pair of interceptions.

The irony he is now relying on a team that released him five months ago is not lost on Cockrell.

“I’m rooting for them, but I’ve been rooting for them all season and I’ll continue to root for them this weekend,” said Cockrell.

The Steelers were in situations where they needed to win and have other things happen for them to get into the playoffs before.

In 2013, they needed a win over Cleveland in the final week of the regular season, along with losses by Baltimore, Miami and San Diego.

They got their victory after the Ravens and Dolphins also lost early in the day, but Kansas City missed a 41-yard field goal at the end of regulation and San Diego won, 27-24, in overtime.

In 2009, the Steelers needed to beat Miami and have a combination of other teams lose to get into the postseason. They won their game but failed to get the right combination of losses to get into the playoffs.

But there also have been some success stories.

In 1989 and 1993, the Steelers needed a win and help from other teams to get into the playoffs. Both times they got what they needed and reached the postseason.

And in 1989, despite sneaking in as the No. 6 seed, they defeated Houston in the first round in overtime and went to Denver in the second round, taking the top-seeded Broncos to the limit before losing, 24-23.

Despite their loss last week, the Steelers are still confident they can be a Super Bowl contender – if they get a chance.

“We hope for the best,” said Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown. “Obviously, we want to get in and make a run. I feel we have the goods to make a run, but we have got to buy in as a team. Every guy has got to be committed to being their best self every week. That’s what it takes to hoist the trophy.”

The Steelers released kick returner Jacoby Jones Friday and signed safety Ross Ventrone off their practice squad to the active roster. … Cornerback Doran Grant (hamstring) and receiver Martavis Bryant (illness) are both listed as questionable to play against the Browns. … Linebacker Bud Dupree was voted the winner of the Joe Greene Great Performance Award, given annually to the team’s top rookie by the Pittsburgh chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America. Guard Ramon Foster was voted the winner of The Chief Award, given to the player who shows best cooperation with the media.