Must Win

They're sitting atop the AFC North with Baltimore, they've started off the season a respectable 6-3 and they're playing the Oakland Raiders. Sounds like a pretty good scenario to me. That is until the Pittsburgh Sports Buzz digs a little deeper.

There's no arguing that 6-3 is a record that any team wouldn't mind having at this point. Up until this year most teams would be standing in line to play the Raiders and put an automatic W on their schedule. Yes, I remember last year. But, somehow the Raiders have managed to put together a winning team or a team that has a chance to win every week. You know, that is my theory about the Pirates too. They have to eventually luck into drafting some star players and be able to get enough wins to have a winning season no matter how bad they are mismanaged.

Back to the game at hand today. The Raiders, like I said, have managed to put together a team that seems to have some talent. Al must have fallen asleep a few times and someone made some good choices. Darren McFadden is one. He is having a very good year and putting behind him the first 2 seasons where he underperformed. He's looked this year like the high draft pick he was.

The Steelers are at a Y in the road. They are at a point where a loss could really start them on a downward spiral. They need to show they can win with the players they have instead of getting down because 2 of their starting offensive linemen are out for the season and the others have been in and out with injuries. Also, two of their three starting defensive linemen have injuries that will cause them to miss significant time this season. I have a feeling Keisel will be in and out the whole season with that hamstring and Aaron Smith will be lucky to come back at all this year.

So what are the keys to the game:
1. Stop DMAC, McFadden is having a great year. The first eight games of the season I would have expected them to shut down any running back, but since Smith and the Deisel are out or at decreased effectiveness, the other guys need to step up. They need to revert back to early season form and stuff the run.

2. Average play William Gay needs to play better. Last year he got burned continuously which led to the Steelers reacquiring Bryant McFadden. Unfortunately they couldn't even hide Gay in the Nickle package. The other teams are looking for him and have again toasted him several times. Can Keenan Lewis be any worse than Gay or are you out there Deshea. Calling Deshea Townsend.

3. Antwaan needs to catch the ball. When Ben throws the ball to you in the end zone catch it. He was a good player in his first stint with the Steelers, all around talent, but not always the best receiver. That pass in the endzone should have been caught, and that's not the first one thrown to him that he couldn't hang onto.

4. Don't wait until the fourth quarter. Get off to a quick start then put the Raiders away. After the Patriots first score last week, the Steelers never got in sync. They need to score early and often. Don't let it come down to the last drive.

5. Swish. A new kicker makes me nervous. Suishman needs to get off to a good start and hit a few extra points to get him acclimated to Heinz Field.

This is a must win for the Steelers. They missed their chance to take a 1 game lead in the AFC North and with all the injuries they've endured this season it could get very ugly, similar to last season.