Playoffs?

To listen to some you'd think the Steelers were out of the hunt. Currently there are eight teams between 5-6 and 7-4 and possibly nine if the Pats lose to the Saints on Monday night. How would I assess each team's chances?

Jacksonville - even though they sit at 6-5, they are easily the worst team of this bunch, they just don't pass the sniff test. They will be lucky to go 2-3 the rest of the way and I'm guessing they lose their next four in a row.

Miami - Brutal schedule to close the season, can't see them getting more than two wins.

Titans - Clearly these are the real Titans, there was no way they were 0-6 bad. Having said that I think their magic will run out and they finish the season 8-8.

Houston - The Indy loss was big. I could see them going 4-1 and getting to 9-7.

Jets - they have three seemingly easy wins, and two real tough games. If they can get one off the Bengals or Colts, they get to 9-7.

Ravens - To me, this week vs. Green Bay is everything. They win and they can get to 10-6 with a loss to the Steelers in week 16. A loss and they could be in trouble.

Broncos - Chiefs twice and the Raiders, 10 to 11 wins should happen. They are in.

Steelers - Chiefs loss could haunt us. Should win the next two and get healthy in preparation for the Pack at Heinz Field. We'll have a long week of preparation that week and a win would effectively set up a playoff game with Baltimore in week 16. 10-6 could get in if the one loss is to Green Bay, I don't see 9-7 making it.

No Ben? No Problem?

Ok, not really, but...

The Steelers should be able to use play calling, field position and good defense to keep the game close. I don't expect either team to top 20 points anyway.

I think two things are due to happen; first the "eight weeks of a return for TD" is bound to stop sometime... hey NOW would be a good time, and second the Steelers defense while overall fairly solid has not created many turnovers or scored much themselves, they need to be at another level today. Oh and third, Stephan Logan is due to take one back himself. If any of those things happen we have a chance. If all of them happen, we win going away.

Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy

Typically the Steelers embody discipline, not today.

If I told you that the offense ran 78 plays, racked up 515 yards and held the ball for 44 minutes, while limiting the Chiefs to 282 yards you would think BLOW OUT. You should have been right.

The lowlights...

85 yards in penalties (most very ill timed holds)

3 turnovers

ANOTHER kick returned for a TD

and a defense that just couldn't make a stop on the game tying drive or in OT.

Play calling was suspect and Ben frankly made too many bad / risky plays against an inferior opponent where it just wasn't necessary.

This one hurts, we'll have to wait and see just how bad.

Bengals reverting to Bunglism?

Cinci is 7-2 overall, 4-0 in division, have swept the Ravens and the Steelers. It's all smooth sailing now right?

I think Mike Brown must have a plaque on his desk declaring "if it aint broke... break it"

What else could explain why they would sign Larry Johnson? Best case scenario he blends into the background (not likely). Worst case, he disrupts the unity on the team just by his mere presence.

What does this make Benson and Scott think? Safe? Secure? Me thinks not.

With their schedule they are still almost a lock to make the playoffs, to me this sets up a classic melt down scenario in the playoffs. I can see a Pittsburgh at Cinci first round match up in the jungle. A rumble it won’t be. The Bengals will come full circle and retreat into bunglism, it’s gonna be great!