Consecutive losses put Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoffs chance on line – NFL News
With two consecutive losses, the Pittsburgh Steelers have landed themselves into further troubles as far as their chance of keeping their position in the playoff race is concerned.
First, it was their tumble in front of the Baltimore Ravens, which was understandable as they were facing the top competitor from their American Football Conference (AFC) North division and without their offence leader and star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger
for the first time.
Then it came their convenient loss to the Cleveland Browns, their another divisional rival whom they have walked over so easily many times down the course of history, but not this time.
The Steelers were without not just one but two key offensive players, Big Ben and Byron Leftwich. Their safety Troy Polamalu, who is another star performance albeit on the defensive line, was already on the sidelines.
Yet the Steelers were in a must-win position and expected to pull of difficult but not impossible victory to keep their chances for the second phase of the season intact. The situation now appears to be quite difficult for them. Overall, the situation is
rather out of their control now.
The points table depicts them with 6-5 position, equal to their divisional competitor, the Cincinnati Bengals, and three games behind the Baltimore Ravens atop the AFC North 9-2.
If the Steelers are down another game they will go behind the Bengals, which certainly will oust them of playoff contention. They must not only be worried about the playoffs, but about their offensive woes to prevent consistent defeats.
The problem with the Steelers is that they are so reliant on one man that without Ben they are exposed all over. After making a rather sluggish start to the season, Ben had pulled them for a few consecutive victories and helped them consolidate their position
on the league’s points table.
Also, it is not just the Bengals they are facing tough fight from, but several other teams in neck-to-neck competition for the playoffs, and to confirm them at least a wildcard chance they need at least three or four wins out of the total five games left
in the regular season.
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