Days before the Steelers headed to Georgia for a game against the Atlanta Falcons, many predicted a tough and almost impossible game for Pittsburgh. But the outcome was in fact favourable for the Steel Curtain.
Last weekend the Pittsburgh Steelers entered the Georgia Dome and pulled out another win against the Atlanta Falcons, improving their record to 9-5 and getting closer to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North. The win over Atlanta gives the Steelers a much needed relief, and with only two weeks before the playoffs, Pittsburgh still controls its own postseason destiny. However, there are some games to keep an eye on before the Steelers start getting ready for the playoffs.
It may sound odd, but Pittsburgh game against the Kansas City Chiefs isn’t the most important matchup for the Steel Curtain. There is no doubt that a win over KC will bury almost all playoff hopes for the Chiefs, but Pittsburgh will try to get some advantage over the Baltimore Ravens, who visit the Houston Texans on Week 16. A Steelers win and Ravens loss ensure Baltimore will not be able to leapfrog their Pittsburgh regardless of what happens in the final week of the regular season.
Another team that should be closely followed is the Buffalo Bills, who are making a late-season charge at 8-6, making a loss to the Oakland Raiders just a little more reassuring for the Steelers and their wild card chances. If the Bills win their Week 16 game against Oakland, they will just inches closer from clinching a wild card ticket, but with a loss by Buffalo and a victory by the Steelers, Pittsburgh will be securing its pass to the NFL playoffs.
If the Steelers lose their game against KC, the door opens for the Bengals to defeat the Denver Broncos and clinch the division, as they also hold the tiebreaker over Baltimore. But as things stand right now, Steelers and Bengals are likely to decide who leads the AFC North on the final game of the regular season. The Bengals will host the Denver Broncos this weekend for Monday Night Football, and then close the season with a road trip to Pittsburgh for what many think is going to be epic finale against the mighty Steelers.
