Time to Put Up or Shut Up

Hey Pittsburgh Sports Buzz Readers

One game to go in the regular season, and this one is big. Thanks to that opening kickoff return for a TD to the Jets this is quite an important game. It has a ton of implications for the playoffs.

First of all, it's the Brownies. This rivalry isn't what it used to be, but I still cannot tolerate a loss to those guys in the Brown unis. I don't like Josh Cribbs, I don't like Eric Mangini, I don't like Mike Holmgren and his whiny self, and I don't even like ex Browns like Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow. They're just plain annoying. It's almost enough just to beat these guys just for the satisfaction of beating them.

But, there's much more riding on this game. Remember last year, another win would have put the Steelers in the playoffs, but they lost to the lowly Brownies. It's payback time.

Here are the other things riding on this game:
This win will clinch the 2nd best record in the AFC. What does that mean. Simple. It means that the Steelers will have a first round playoff bye, at least one home playoff game and if they win that game and the Patriots lose their first game a second home game. It's happened before. Without the win in this game they will be a Wild Card team and will have to travel a path they've traveled successfully before, but it will be difficult. Remember the path to Super Bowl XL. Three victories on the road in Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Denver. Carson Palmer remembers it, that's where his career started going downhill. Jerome Bettis remembers it. Hard to forget that goalline fumble and subsequent tackle by Ben.

But, the Steelers are much better off playing that first game at home and taking their chances. The bye week will help a few players get a little bit better.

Remember Aaron Smith? He's been trying to rehabilitate that torn tricep he injured earlier this season. I would say he would be a great addition to the run defense, but the Steelers run defense has been historically great this year. What would they have done with Aaron Smith. Who knows, but I sure would like to see what he can do with even more time to rehabilitate that injury.

There's a few other players who are nursing injuries and it would be great to get them as healthy as possible. There's Troy Polamalu, a candidate for defensive player of the year. He has been a key to all the games he's played in this year and probably locked up at least 3 with big plays. Tomlin says that he is close to being able to play against the Browns, but a bye week could help him heal even more.

Then there's the quarterback with one extra large shoe. Does he have a broken foot or did he just aggravate an old injury. Who really knows but the doctors. A week off could do nothing but help that injury, not to mention that broken nose he's dealing with.

Needless to say this team would benefit greatly from a win this week against their AFC north rival. Forget the other stuff, payback would be sweet.