Steelers Likely Out of Playoff Picture
Kristian Wiles
December 10, 2009
Posted under AFC North, Against The Spread Picks, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
A little over a month ago the Steelers were still in the conversation of who the NFL’s best teams would be at the end of the season. But with 4 games left to go it is not likely that Pittsburgh will even make the playoffs this year. So, what’s the problem?
In years past you could count on the Steeler defense and the running game, especially in the 4th quarter, but it’s not true this season. They have lost six games this season by a total of 21 points and have given up leads late in games. Last week being the most embarrasing example against Oakland at home. It looked like the Steelers and Raiders both forgot who they are supposed to be. I couldn’t believe what I was watching. In fact no one could. But Pittsburgh is 6-6 and looking up at the Bengals and Ravens (have the tiebreak with better conference record and win over the Steelers) in their own division along with 6 other teams in the AFC.
This week’s game has the Steelers up against the Browns who barely still count as a division rival at 1-11. But what’s scary for Pittsburgh is that the Browns have been hanging around in games much more over the last several weeks while the Steelers have been giving away leads. It is likely that Roethlisberger and crew will right the ship this week but then again, everyone thought that last week also. Somewhere Chris Berman is saying, “…and that’s why they play the game.”
So to answer the question above, the problem is a defense without it’s biggest star, a running game that has been off and on, and a team that doesn’t seem as hungry to win another title as many of the teams around them. Sorry Steelers fans but none of this is good news.
The short week on the road could prove difficult for the Steelers while the 10 point spread may be equally difficult for the AFJ team to pick correctly. We too are trying to come back after a disappointing performance. If given the chance to pick straight up, we would all go with Pittsburgh. However, with a 10 point spread the picks are as follows:
Chad: takes Steelers -10 @ Cleveland
Ian: takes Browns +10 @ home
Kristian: takes Browns +10 @ home
