PITTSBURGH--The Pittsburgh Steelers can kick themselves for any of several costly moments this season that have left them in a precarious situation with respect to the postseason heading into Week 17. But they figure that's unproductive.
Having dropped four its last five games -- including a 31-28 loss in New Orleans last weekend -- Pittsburgh (8-6-1) must avoid a loss at home in its regular-season finale Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals (6-9) at Heinz Field ... and that's not all.
A win or tie against the Bengals plus a Cleveland Browns win at Baltimore would give Pittsburgh the AFC North title and a berth in the postseason. The Steelers also will get in as a wild card if they win and the Sunday night Tennessee-Indianapolis game ends in a tie.
Because ties are rare (although the Steelers and Browns tied in Week 1), the first scenario seems like the most likely path to the playoffs for Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh-Cincinnati game and the Cleveland-Baltimore game will be played concurrently, so the players and coaches won't know anything about the other game unless they watch the scoreboard during their own game.
"We just focus on the things that are within our control. From that perspective it's no different than any other week," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin told the media this week. "We'd better handle business in our stadium. There are things going on in other stadiums that could affect us, but there are things going on in other stadiums every weekend that could affect our positioning.
"We'd better focus on the task at hand, the things that are within our control, and that is our preparation and play as we push into Heinz Field on Sunday. That will be the message."
It's not lost on the Steelers, though, that beyond winning their game they will need help from a longtime bitter rival. Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hedged on the idea of rooting for the Browns.
"It's funny. I'm getting asked that question asked a lot," he said. "Honestly, we have to take care of our business. Nothing happens if we don't win Sunday."
The Steelers potentially got good news Wednesday when running back James Conner (high ankle sprain) was a full go at practice. Safety Sean Davis (quadriceps) and linebacker Vince Williams (toe), however, did not practice.
Cincinnati, meanwhile, is out of the playoff picture and relegated to playing the role of spoiler against the Steelers. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, however, said such extenuating circumstances don't alter the flavour of a divisional matchup against Pittsburgh.
"Division games always do (have the same intensity) -- they never change," Lewis told the media when asked about his players' approach to the finale. "It's a game in the National Football League. To me, I don't think the intensity level of them changes."
