Endymion said:

While Dallas is not a "top" team, Pittsburgh doesn't match up well against them. Dallas can put some points on the board and while Batch has shown some improvement from the Browns to the Ravens week, he has not demonstrated he can lead the team into a shoot-out, let alone win one. Pittsburgh has had a poor history versus Dallas, with only Bradshaw and Roethlisberger having winning records versus that team (if my memory serves me correctly). Further, Tomlin has a terrible record outside of the Eastern time zone. Supposing Pittsburgh wins against Dallas, regardless of the chaotic mess that they are, is overly optimistic. It is possible that they can beat Dallas, however, Dallas is the least probable opponent that Pittsburgh beats down the stretch, especially without Ben.

A loss to Dallas could set Cleveland up as a spoiler for Pittsburgh's post-season hopes. In fact any Pittsburgh loss could set Cleveland up as a spoiler. If Pittsburgh wins the next three they are in and the Cleveland game is irrelevant unless Baltimore falls apart and the division title is back in play.

Well, remember, The Bengals have to tussle with the Cowboys first, and yinz take on the gutless Chargers. So I would say advantage Steelers this week as far as the schedule goes. The following week it is advantage Bengals as they take on the hapless Eagles whilst youze goes to Dallas.

I don't know if they have some kind of computer power ranking or whatever, but, right now I would say that the Ravens/Steelers/Bengals/Cowboys should all essentially have the same score.

@comeonman said:

Not so much. DAL is not a top team in my opinion. In "any given Sunday" top teams will normally beat the opposite

While Dallas is not a "top" team, Pittsburgh doesn't match up well against them. Dallas can put some points on the board and while Batch has shown some improvement from the Browns to the Ravens week, he has not demonstrated he can lead the team into a shoot-out, let alone win one. Pittsburgh has had a poor history versus Dallas, with only Bradshaw and Roethlisberger having winning records versus that team (if my memory serves me correctly). Further, Tomlin has a terrible record outside of the Eastern time zone. Supposing Pittsburgh wins against Dallas, regardless of the chaotic mess that they are, is overly optimistic. It is possible that they can beat Dallas, however, Dallas is the least probable opponent that Pittsburgh beats down the stretch, especially without Ben.

A loss to Dallas could set Cleveland up as a spoiler for Pittsburgh's post-season hopes. In fact any Pittsburgh loss could set Cleveland up as a spoiler. If Pittsburgh wins the next three they are in and the Cleveland game is irrelevant unless Baltimore falls apart and the division title is back in play.

@comeonman said:

If the steelers can beat BAL with batch, they can beat DAL with batch. They are getting old, but right now they are still one of the top NFL teams when they are in sync

On Any Given Sunday. Sure, maybe they CAN, but will they? You are presupposing that the Ravens are that good. The hypothesis of this thread is that the Ravens may not in fact be all that good.

Certainly we all like to dump on the Steelers and say how they are diminishing. My point is: why not be fair? Why not propose that the Ravens are diminishing as well.

Endymion said:

The Steelers essentially have to win out to even have a chance at getting the division, and the Bengals have lost too many divisional games to have a realistic chance of supplanting the Ravens. Pittsburgh, may have to rely on Charlie Batch for 1 or 2 more games as well. I don't like the Steelers odds vs. Dallas with Batch. Further, in a tie-breaking scenario, the Ravens have to lose to Cincinnati for the Steelers to claim the North crown.

Pittsburgh needs to win 3 of the next 4 games to get into the play-offs, with the most critical game coming against Cincinnati. If Cincinnati loses to either Pittsburgh or Baltimore they are pretty much out of the play-offs (due to tie-breakers, unless Pittsburgh falls off the map). Pittsburgh really has too many AFC loses and probably doesn't beat Baltimore in any tie-breaking scenario anyways. Baltimore would have to completely collapse and lose 3 of the next 4 for Pittsburgh to have any hope of taking the division.

I don't know if the Browns game will mean anything. Pittsburgh may have it's play-off seed or lack there-of annointed by then. Ben should be back and it will be at home game for my team, which will make the prospect of a Steelers victory far more probable. Our first meeting had more significance however, and it pretty much dooms Pittsburgh's hopes of a home play-off game. If Pittsburgh makes it into the play-offs this year, the only team I don't want to face is Denver (in Denver). I feel better about our defense when Ryan Clark is back there, and he won't be there for a Denver game. Besides, everyone wants to see Luck/Manning first round matchup anyways.

Yes, everything you say is correct. My point is that the Ravens, with their schedule....and with the fact that now Terrell Suggs may be gone again with a torn bicep, could in fact collapse down the stretch give the difficulty of their schedule, which could open things up for either Cincy or Pitt. If the Ravens do completely collapse, they still would probably get a WC...but Pitt beating Balt. really saved their bacon.

Realistically it does seem that their are only 3 teams vying for 2 spots....and the Colts may have a strangle hold on one of those slots. Thus it comes down to the Bengals and Steelers. Fun and games.

And oddly....a lot of it may come down to the Dallas Cowboys who have games against both.

@the-gipper said:

The Steelers are the next up to observe the Norv Turner Death Watch. That game vs. the Cowboys will be a pick 'em game no doubt. I can see the assholes at NBC drooling over that one for their Sunday night flex scheduling.

Then of course the Bengals showdown. I do believe it will be a showdown for a playoff spot. Then the Browns. Steeler fans will take this game for granted. Steeler coaches and players won't.

The Steelers essentially have to win out to even have a chance at getting the division, and the Bengals have lost too many divisional games to have a realistic chance of supplanting the Ravens. Pittsburgh, may have to rely on Charlie Batch for 1 or 2 more games as well. I don't like the Steelers odds vs. Dallas with Batch. Further, in a tie-breaking scenario, the Ravens have to lose to Cincinnati for the Steelers to claim the North crown.

Pittsburgh needs to win 3 of the next 4 games to get into the play-offs, with the most critical game coming against Cincinnati. If Cincinnati loses to either Pittsburgh or Baltimore they are pretty much out of the play-offs (due to tie-breakers, unless Pittsburgh falls off the map). Pittsburgh really has too many AFC loses and probably doesn't beat Baltimore in any tie-breaking scenario anyways. Baltimore would have to completely collapse and lose 3 of the next 4 for Pittsburgh to have any hope of taking the division.

I don't know if the Browns game will mean anything. Pittsburgh may have it's play-off seed or lack there-of annointed by then. Ben should be back and it will be at home game for my team, which will make the prospect of a Steelers victory far more probable. Our first meeting had more significance however, and it pretty much dooms Pittsburgh's hopes of a home play-off game. If Pittsburgh makes it into the play-offs this year, the only team I don't want to face is Denver (in Denver). I feel better about our defense when Ryan Clark is back there, and he won't be there for a Denver game. Besides, everyone wants to see Luck/Manning first round matchup anyways.

@clevelandwantsplayoffs said:

i feel as though the days of being taken for granted are over my friend. And Steeler fans who would be "happy" to play us would be lying or foolish

Let's put it this way, if the Browns could sweep them this year it would be a rude awakening from that mindset.

@the-gipper said:

Then the Browns. Steeler fans will take this game for granted. Steeler coaches and players won't.

i feel as though the days of being taken for granted are over my friend. And Steeler fans who would be "happy" to play us would be lying or foolish