Is It "Lights Out" For the Pittsburgh Steelers??

Charlie, All of SteelerNation Wondered What
That Performance Was...

The Steelers loss to the Cleveland Browns was record setting on many different levels.  First, they lost back to back games for the first time since 2009.  Second, they lost to the Browns (in Cleveland) for the first time since 2009.  Third, they turned the ball over more times in one game since 1989.  Quite a festive way for SteelerNation to spend their Sunday after Thanksgiving, right?  If you are like me, the Monday after a Steelers' game is spent covering the regular sites that cover the Steelers.  Sure, I read alot more when the Steelers win, but I read alot after the Browns defeat, and I must say...there is alot of skepticism and negativity out there.  Was I pissed off about how the Steelers played?  You bet I was.  Was I questioning alot of decisions / plays that happened?  You bet I did.  Do I think the season is over for the Steelers?  That is where I disagree with most of SteelerNation.  Let me be more specific:

I chose not to do a "recap" of the game because everyone and their brother does that, and no one wants to read another column on how crappy the Steelers played.  Instead, I want to show how the Steelers can still make the playoffs, and IF (I know, thats a big 'IF') they are healthy can make a legitimate run at a Superbowl.  The biggest factor to me is the Steelers defense.  They are playing at a phenomenal rate, and are stopping the pass better than any Steeler defense I can remember.  Their calling card used to be "stop the run and force the pass".  Remember the days of Chad Scott and Dewayne Washington?  They used to get SHREDDED in the secondary.  This year's defense is much more stout vs the pass, even without Troy Polamalu.  They haven't allowed a QB to throw for 200 yards in the past 6 GAMES! That alone is astounding.  Sure, their run defense isn't what it used to be, but young Aaron Smith isn't walking through the door anytime soon. 

The other factor that people need to remember is that Ben is going to return at some point this season, and it can't come soon enough.  Some think it will be this Sunday, but I'm going to wait and see how his "throwing" regiment goes on Monday before I give my opinions on whether or not he will play.  I still believe the Steelers can beat the Ravens without Ben, but they can't turn the ball over to do it.  Without Ben's return set in stone, what do the Steelers need to do to get into the playoffs?  Lets analyze this...there are 2 REAL teams the Steelers need to concern themselves with in terms of jockeying for the 2 Wild Card playoff spots.  Those teams are the Colts and the Bengals.  It is essentially a 3 horse race for 2 spots.  Lets look at remaining Schedules:

Steelers - @ Baltimore / vs San Diego / @ Dallas / vs Cincinnati / vs Cleveland

Bengals - @ San Diego / vs Dallas / @ Philadelphia / @ Pittsburgh / vs Baltimore

Colts - @ Detroit / vs Tennessee / @ Houston / @ Kansas City / vs Houston

Analyzing this for the Steelers is like using one of those old "Magic 8-Balls" to predict the future.  You just don't know whats going to show up every week with the Steelers.  Nonetheless, if I were to guess, the Steelers will drop 1 of their final 5 games bringing them to 10-6.  The Bengals have a tough road to hoe, but like the Colts, some of their toughest opponents might have already locked up their playoff spot and home field heading into the final week.  With that said, I see the Bengals also only losing 1 game finishing 10-6.  The Colts are a team that is tough to diagnose, but a team that doesn't play well outside of their home field.  I see them dropping 3 of their final 5 games, but the Texans in Week 17 might have nothing to play for and rest their players. 

Regardless of other teams schedules, the Steelers need to take care of their own business before worrying about anyone else.  If the Steelers truly want to prove they aren't the team from 2009 that went 9-7 and missed the playoffs by one game, then they need to beat the Ravens this Sunday in M&T Bank Stadium and prove they aren't that team.  Beating the Bengals again will be a HUGE step in the right direction towards the playoffs.  Is it "Lights Out" for the Steelers?  No, but the lights are starting to dim....time to fix the problem right away.