Steelers survive roller coaster season with hopes of Super Bowl run intact

It is a very long road as the sixth seed – Saturday night when they play in Cincinnati, the week after that if they win, and the week after that if they win. “We’re where we need to be”.

“I think more blitzing and better execution”, free safety Mike Mitchell assessed of what became an assault on the Browns’ pocket. And while the Steelers’ offensive line is a strength, they don’t have much bench strength in that area. At times, there have been few worse in their two losses to Baltimore. But the yardage given up, particularly against the pass, could be a liability against potential opponents in the Bengals, Chiefs, Patriots and Broncos.

“We want to find the right head coach who I believe will be the leader of the team and the face of the franchise”, said Haslam, who returned to FirstEnergy Stadium following a meeting with Pettine at team headquarters in Berea, Ohio. Here we go, Steelers! “He’s got a chance to be a really good one”. “Last year (Ben) Tate comes in, kind of a last-minute thing (when Le’Veon Bell was hurt in the regular-season finale against Cincinnati) and we were kind of unprepared in that sense”. They do not have a quality backup.

“We’ve had guys step up through injuries before and we’ve never made the playoffs or we haven’t done what we’ve done”, this season, Roethlisberger continued.

As it turned out, Ryan and the Buffalo Bills (8-8) stopped the Jets (10-6) from making the playoffs and gave the Steelers (10-6) the final playoff spot in the AFC.

“We have an excited locker room and rightfully so”, Tomlin said. On this day, the return was 94 yards shorter but it was enough to bail Roethlisberger out and turn the momentum toward Pittsburgh for good. He certainly must be better than he has been lately. Yes, the sack total is impressive, and the unit had four takeaways on Sunday to add to a double-digit fumbles recovered and passes intercepted on the season. They won six of their past eight games.

“We don’t know the extent of that”, said Tomlin.

Kellen Moore had 435 yards passing and three touchdowns after throwing an interception and losing a fumble on a snap to help dig a quick 21-0 hole for the Cowboys (4-12). The total, meanwhile, is sitting at 46.5 points. 500 to play for, nothing more.

“We have to keep it going next week”, linebacker Lawrence Timmons said.

“We’re just hopeful we get a win”, fan Walter Visage said.

Beyond the team’s many on-field issues, Manziel, who was sidelined with a concussion, continues to be a distraction. “We have to make the most out of this situation”. -I understand they were playing the Browns, but when the offense struggled, the defense bailed them out.

“No one’s scary. If you’re scared of another team, you’re in the wrong profession”. They are a danger to any team they play. Then Buffalo’s social media team got into the act. But they will go into the offseason on a high note, after beating the Falcons for the second time this season.

The Bills even responded to a thank you tweet from Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward.

While they needed a minor miracle to sneak in the back door of the playoffs, the Steelers are clearly a threat in the AFC playoffs.