Pittsburgh Steelers Status Quo Unchanged After Thumping Titans
By Erik Lambert
Yes the Pittsburgh Steelers are hot. Yes they’re looking like the team to beat in the AFC. Except no. No they aren’t because it’s been years since that was true.
People have seen this episode by now. AFC team thinks it has figured out the formula and proclaim themselves top dog. They dominate most of the schedule. Said team runs into the New England Patriots and are immediately humbled. It’s not always that way, but it is 90% of the time. For the Steelers this has been their reality for the past 16 years.
No matter how well they seem to play, every time they’ve come into contact with the Patriots they’re reminded that they’re still second fiddle in that conference. To date they have not beaten New England in a playoff game during the Belichick era, going 0-3. Their humiliation back in January was only the latest reminder of that.
This is why their upcoming matchup in December is so crucial. Not only will it be a measuring stick to see if the Steelers have learned anything. It will also likely be a battle for home field advantage. Though they’re luckless in the playoff, they have beaten the Patriots twice at Heinz Field in their many meetings over the years.
For the time being Pittsburgh can enjoy their big win
It really does feel like this team is better than the one that finished 2016. They still have the great offense but now the defense is starting to forge its own identity. Is that identity up to the task of challenging that Brady offense. Common sense says unlikely, but then again even the mighty Patriots aren’t invincible. It just takes a serious degree of mental fortitude to overcome them.
The Steelers are still trying to find out whether they have it or if they’re just another poser for the kings to put in their place. The law of averages say their times will come at some point, right? On December 17th, more answers will be provided.