So it’s playoff time. This time last year, I wrote a couple of entries that, for the most part, accurately predicted the outcomes of the Steeler games in the playoffs. This year will be different. Not because I don’t have the power to accurately predict the playoff games. I do. It’s because the Steelers unfortunately won’t make it to the Super Bowl this year and I’m going to pick them to probably win every single game. However, they will only win if a couple of things fall their way.
This will be a short post with a lot of information in it so stick with me.
First, the Texans need to win. I don’t think they will but if the Steelers are going to have a chance, the Houston team will need to win their first playoff game ever. This will come into play later. For the Steelers this week, they will need to blow out the Broncos. As in, Roethlisberger will have to score two to three touchdowns, the defense will have to force a couple of turnovers, and the Broncos can’t put up more than 3 points on the board- all in the first half. If they do this, which I think they can, the Steelers will have to put Batch in for the second half and sit Roethlisberger to give him rest. I know this sounds crazy because you don’t necessarily want to give a cold quarterback a lead because he might squander it, but rest for Roethlisberger is uber important these playoffs. The Steelers will win 24-10 and we’ll move onto the second round.
Second, The Steelers will play the Patriots and the Texans will play the Ravens. I know it doesn't sound like it matters but I think this is how it needs to go. If we play the Ravens in the second round, no one is going to be healthy enough to hold up against them. Roethlisberger will definitely get hit, his ankle will get pulled on by the Ravens, and we would probably lose that game. Instead, Roethlisberger needs to play against a team that can’t get to him so he can rest again. We can beat the Patriots but in order to do so, Ryan Clark, who will be healthy, will need to step his game up, Woodley will have to be feeling good, and Harrison and Polamalu will have to be in full form as well. Steelers will go into Foxborough and win against the Patriots.
Third, while the hope is that the Ravens will lose to the Texans, I don’t think that’ll happen. However, at this point in the year, the Steelers will have just had a full week of rest and will be ready to play a very familiar team. That is the best thing you can hope for going against a tough and brutal team like the Ravens. Hopefully Roethlisberger will be feeling his best, Pouncey will be back by that point, the defense will be solid, and a cocky Joe Flacco will lose the AFC Championship again.
If any of the above is off, my whole prediction is wrong. If any of the above is incorrect, including health of the players, I believe that the Steelers will lose in the second round. This is not pessimism. It’s unfortunately realism for me. It’s been a great year being a Steeler fan. And I hope I’m wrong about my theories. But you have to be healthy going into the playoffs- and we’re not this year.
If the Steelers go on to play in the Super Bowl, they’ll do so against the Saints or the Giants (note: not the Packers this year) and they’ll either beat the Giants or lose to the Saints.
