Steelers put themselves in position to earn wild-card spot

By Alan Robinson

They were written off as being over the hill, washed up and done for the season following an 0-4 start and, later, a punishing and record-setting loss to the Patriots*.

Somehow, relying on the perseverance veteran players acquire while dealing with unexpected defeat, they've revived their season with a remarkable turnaround perhaps only they expected.

Pardon Steelers center Fernando Velasco for feeling as if he has been here before, because he has.

For the first time in their competitive and often combustive 18-season rivalry, the Steelers (5-6) and Ravens (5-6) will play an immensely consequential game Thursday night in Baltimore when both own losing records. The winner not only will reach .500 but will emerge as the frontrunner for the AFC's sixth and final playoff spot.

It's only the second time since the former Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens that they've met the Steelers so late in the season with both teams owning losing records. The only other time was 1999, when both sat out the playoffs.

“We need this game. It's a must win for us,” Steelers linebacker Jarvis Jones said Monday. “That's how I look at it.”

The Steelers couldn't have been expected to be playing a meaningful game on Thanksgiving when they were 0-4, yet Velasco was impressed by how committed they were to turning their season around following their winless September.

“At 0-4, you can throw it in the tank,” Velasco said. “But I can honestly say nobody on this team did. We're still coming to work and excited. The attitude (was good), it was still a positive environment. Not a lot of 0-4 teams are still positive coming to work.

“But the guys knew, ‘Hey, we've got a great team, we can be good, we can move the ball on offense, the defense can do their thing.' Everybody felt comfortable and confident in themselves we could get it turned around.”

Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/5138914-74/steelers-0-4-8-3#ixzz2ljIKn5RZ

We can put ourselves in the front seat of the car for the playoffs, but the only way we get to drive this car is with more losses by the titans and raiders. Both games we should've won, both games we could've won....but hey that shite happens. Time to take care of what we can take care of and that's our own 60 minutes of football.

Starting this Thursday night!

Must whine, can no lose!

stlrtruck wrote:

We can put ourselves in the front seat of the car for the playoffs, but the only way we get to drive this car is with more losses by the titans and raiders.  Both games we should've won, both games we could've won....but hey that shite happens.  Time to take care of what we can take care of and that's our own 60 minutes of football.

Starting this Thursday night!

Must whine, can no lose!

The Raiders are now a game behind us. They won't factor in unless we lose another game (pffffft). Next up for the Raiders is the Cowboys, Jets, Chiefs, Chargers, and Broncos. I think it's safe to assume they'll lose at least one more game.

The Titans have the Colts, Broncos, Cardinals, Jaguars, and Texans. Not a walk in the park, but we really need them to lose one (if not both) of the next two games. Losing the next three would be even more helpful. Then again, if we need them to lose 3 of their remaining 5 games, we don't deserve to make it in anyway.

The bottom line is that we need to take care of our own business. If we do, we'll be in. In all likelihood, we probably can afford to lose one more game, but it's better if we don't.