Thanks to a big comeback win, as well as a collapse of the Cleveland Browns last week, the Pittsburgh Steelers not only secured the AFC North crown, but now can’t do worse than third place in the playoffs.
This means that the week 17 clash with the Cleveland Browns does nothing for this team. The team has already announced that it will sit on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and start Mason Rudolph.
So, there’s nothing to worry about, right? Wrong. Here are our big concerns this week.
Catastrophic injury
(AP Photo / Don Wright)
You worry about injuries every week, but with the Steelers finally making it back to the playoffs, the fear of serious injury to a guy like linebacker TJ Watt or safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in a meaningless game is even more so worrisome.
Showing the Browns a lot
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Winning and losing doesn’t matter, but there is a real possibility that the Steelers will host the Browns the following week in the first round of the playoffs. As much as Pittsburgh wants to perform and do a good show on Sunday, this game must seem very simple in terms of game plan, in case they have to face each other again the following week.
Don’t miss this advantage
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The second half of last week’s game was just what the Steelers needed. Not only did it show the world, but the Steelers themselves that it’s still the same team that started the 11-0 season. There is always the risk that a meaningless game before the playoffs will undermine the momentum.