Steelers In Hot Pursuit At Halfway Point Of Season
Oct 26, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) scores a touchdown past Indianapolis Colts cornerback Greg Toler (28) and safety Mike Adams (29) during the first half of their game at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Steelers put up one of their most impressive wins offensively in quite some time. It’s amazing what can happen when everything comes into alignment – offensive line blocks well, Ben Roethlisberger has time and pinpoint accuracy, and Todd Haley calls a great game. The trifecta allowed the Steelers to hang 42 offensive points on the Colts. All of them were touchdown throws from Big Ben who had a career day, and NFL record day, and notched his 100th win.
That win against the Colts accomplished several things: It put the Steelers at 5-3 and right in the thick of the AFC North race when just two weeks ago it seemed well out of hand. It gave this team a huge injection of the feel good mojo that probably has them salivating to take on the Ravens next week (instead of maybe feeling trepidation). It gives the Steelers a potential tiebreaker against the Bengals and Ravens since both of those teams lost to the same AFC opponent were it to come to that after Week 17.
The Ravens and Bengals faced off against each other on Sunday. It’s a game played where I hope that both teams would spontaneously combust on the field. That didn’t happen, and the Bengals were crowned the winner of that contest. The loss puts the Ravens even with the Steelers at 5-3. The Bengals, because they could not find a way to score three measly points against the Carolina Panthers in overtime, are still sitting at the top. Enjoy it while it lasts, Bungles. Once the other teams come out of their bye weeks, the positions will shift since the Bengals have played one less game than the Steelers and Ravens, thus having a better win percentage. The Browns are still very much in contention as well. Sitting at 4-3 after their win against the hapless Raiders, the Browns have more wins than they did all of last season. Congrats, Brownies.
Next Sunday will be a huge one for the Steelers and Ravens. With both at 5-3, the winner of Sunday’s game will more than likely have the outright lead of the AFC North. If the Ravens win, they will have solid control and swept the Steelers for the season. If the Steelers win, they will have split the season with the Ravens and feel great going into their bye week. Let’s hope this past Sunday was no fluke.
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