Like a boxer who is bloodied and bruised in victory, as well as defeat, the Pittsburgh Steelers have survived several apparent knockout blows to their postseason hopes and can still qualify for the AFC playoffs.
Despite a 7-7 record after a 27-24 overtime loss Sunday at Dallas, the Steelers can slip into the playoffs with home wins against the Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) and Cleveland Browns (5-9) to close out the regular season. Both games are against AFC North Division opponents.
"We still control our own destiny, but we can't go out there and play like we played these last two weeks,'' Steelers outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley said following the loss to the Cowboys.
"So, we have to finish these last two games strong. There is still an opportunity, because we control our own destiny to get into the playoffs. It's all about going out and finishing strong these last two games (to) get into the post-season, (but) this week and last week we didn't play well.''
The Baltimore Ravens (9-5), who lead the AFC North, and Steelers are limping down the homestretch. The Ravens have lost three straight, while the Steelers have dropped two straight and four of their past five games. The Bengals are playing as well as anybody with five wins in their past six games. All three teams actually can still win the division.
The Ravens, who already have qualified for the playoffs, play host to the New York Giants Sunday and visit Cincinnati Dec. 30. The Bengals are at Pittsburgh this week and play host to the Ravens to close out the regular season. If the Ravens win one game in the final two, they win the AFC North.
The Bengals can make the postseason with a win against the Steelers this week, but they can win the division with two victories. The Steelers must win both games to make the playoffs, but they can win the division if the Ravens lost their final two games.
That would give all three teams 9-7 records, but the Steelers' head-to-head record against the Ravens (1-1) and Bengals (2-0) would be 3-1 combined.
And that would be the best of the three teams.
"We are fortunate, but we won those games to be in it,'' nose tackle Casey Hampton said. "It's not a fortunate league, you know what I mean? We did enough to win enough games to put ourselves in a position to be where we are at, (but) we have to play better and try to get this next one.''
While wideout Mike Wallace correctly noted that the Steelers are in the same position they were before the debacle in Dallas and it's not out of the question for things to fall their way, as far as the other teams are concerned, the club hasn't played well enough to win one game in a row let alone two straight.
Steelers tight end Heath Miller respectively disagreed.
"I think we have the pieces in this locker room,'' Miller said. "Obviously, we’ve got some things we need to correct, (but) we've got to keep working and figure out how to put four (good) quarters together.''
Notes: The Steelers announced late Monday that they reinstated running back Rashard Mendenhall from their Reserved-Suspended List. The NFL gave them a one-day roster exemption for Mendenhall that expires Tuesday at 4 p.m. If the Steelers place Mendenhall on the 53-man roster, they must release a player. Mendenhall was suspended this past week for not attending the Dec. 9 home game against San Diego. Mendenhall was told that he would be deactivated that day and said he didn't believe he still had to be at the game.
Follow Steelers reporter Dale Grdnic on Twitter @CBSSteelers.
