The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to play the Denver Broncos in the first round of the playoffs on January 8, 2012. The game will be held in the high altitude and low oxygen conditions of Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver. Unfortunately, for Steelers S Ryan Clark, this means he will not be able to play and he has been pulled out of the game.

Clark carries the sickle cell trait in his blood and when exposed to high altitude and reduced oxygen, this condition can become life-threatening. Clark learned this in 2007 when he last played in Denver. That game cost him his spleen and gallbladder, as well as a loss of 30 pounds and an end to his season. He thought he was going to die.

So what exactly is sickle cell and how is it affected by high altitude and reduced oxygen?

Sickle cell affects the red blood cells in the body. It is caused by a trait that is acquired from both parents.

Healthy red blood cells are round in shape and designed to move easily through the blood vessels. They carry the iron-rich protein called hemoglobin which carries oxygen throughout your body. In people with sickle cell disease, these red blood cells are crescent shaped and carry abnormal hemoglobin. Because of the shape of the cells, they can also block blood flow in the vessels. This can cause pain, organ damage and serious infections.

In order to have sickle cell disease, you need to have received the sickle cell trait from both of your parents. However, if you only receive the trait from one parent, you are diagnosed with sickle cell trait. This means that you will more than likely not have symptoms of the disease but can see complications under certain conditions.

Ryan Clark is considered to have sickle cell trait. He does not suffer from the disease on a regular basis but can experience complications and can pass the trait to his children.

Complications for those carrying the sickle cell trait occur under conditions of high atmospheric pressure, low oxygen levels, dehydration and high altitudes. Unfortunately for Clark, those account for many of the conditions in Denver. The higher altitude and reduced oxygen can be difficult enough for healthy individuals to receive enough oxygen for their body, but with sickle cell trait it becomes even more difficult.

While the idea of missing the first playoff game is not appealing to Clark, neither is a risk of potential complications. This is not the first game he has missed because of this condition. The Steelers have played Denver two times since that game in 2007 and Clark was pulled out of both of them.

Deborah Braconnier is a former athlete, medical professional and avid football fan. She is a freelance writer and Featured Contributor for the NFL and Olympics. She has followed the Denver Broncos since she was a child and can usually be found yelling at the television during football season. Follow her on Twitter at @fwcdeborah.

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“People were telling me later they could hear it through their TV,” Batch said. “I was like, ‘really, OK, pretty good.’”

Actually, better than that.

Batch was his usual efficient, reliable self against the Rams, passing for 208 yards and showing there’s plenty of life left in his 37-year-old legs, extending several plays that turned into big gains as the Steelers (11-4) kept their hopes of an AFC North title alive.

The Pittsburgh native improved to 5-2 while subbing for starter Ben Roethlisberger through the years, earning praise from coach Mike Tomlin and turning Roethlisberger into one of the world’s tallest — and most handsomely paid — cheerleaders.

When the fans started chanting Batch’s name, Roethlisberger joined in. It’s the least he could do for one of his closest friends.

“For an old man … making people miss in the pocket and doing some great things, I was really happy for him and happy for the team,” said Roethlisberger, who dressed but did not play so he could rest his badly sprained left ankle. “He did a great job.”

So good the Steelers might let Roethlisberger watch from the sideline again on Sunday when they close the regular season against woeful Cleveland (4-11). Pittsburgh can still win the AFC North with a victory and a loss by the Ravens in Cincinnati.

Though Batch is openly rooting for Roethlisberger to start, and while Roethlisberger took snaps with the first team in practice on Wednesday, the veteran’s steady performance against the Rams calmed any doubts he can keep the Steelers competitive.

“Charlie likes to chuck it,” wide receiver Antonio Brown said. “You know he wants to get it out of there and let us go to work.”

The same as it ever was for Batch, who spent the spring helping the NFL Players Association negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement then spent training camp wondering if he’d have a job when the season started.

Batch and Dennis Dixon battled for the third quarterback spot behind Roethlisberger and Byron Leftwich during the preseason only to move up the depth chart after Leftwich went out with a broken right arm in an exhibition game.

It wasn’t the way Batch envisioned keeping a roster spot. Then again, he’s been around so long — Batch is the oldest player on a team full of guys on the other side of 30 — he’s no longer concerned about how he makes the team so long as he does.

By Batch’s count, this summer was the third — or is it fourth? — time his career was supposed to be over. Yet he remains employed and effective.

The player who deftly avoided blitzing linebackers and methodically moved the Steelers up and down the field looked an awful lot like the one considered a solid starter while playing with the Detroit Lions around the turn of the millennium.

By Evan Dunlap

– Newsdesk contributor

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Dec 27, 2011 – The Pittsburgh Steelers blanked the St. Louis Rams, 27-0, in Week 16 to run their record to 11-4. But beating the 2-13 Rams wasn’t enough to improve the Steelers’ place in the SB Nation NFL power rankings, as Pittsburgh remains at No. 6.

The five teams ahead of the Steelers are, in order, the Green Bay Packers (14-1), New Orleans Saints (12-3), San Francisco 49ers (12-3), New England Patriots (12-3), and Baltimore Ravens (11-4).

“Pittsburgh is in this place every year — one of the top handful of teams in the league,” writes Joel Thorman. “I’m just hoping for a playoff rematch with the Ravens.”

The Steelers have a chance to overtake Baltimore in the AFC North if they defeat the Cleveland Browns and the Ravens lose their game against the Cincinnati Bengals. If the teams finish with identical records, Baltimore wins the division, and thus earns a first-round playoff bye, by virtue of its 2-0 record against the Steelers this season.

As it happens, the Rams’ loss to Pittsburgh dipped St. Louis to No. 32 in the SB Nation rankings this week, which moved the Indianapolis Colts (2-13) out of the cellar.

For more on the Steelers, please visit Behind the Steel Curtain, SB Nation’s Steelers blog.

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On Friday, Dec. 23, ESPN’s Adam Shefter reported that Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is a game-time decision for Saturday’s game against the St. Louis Rams. If Roethlisberger is unable to go, then backup Charlie Batch would likely get the start.

Some of my fellow Rams fans might think I’m crazy, but I hope Big Ben plays. The Rams pass rush has been one of the few bright spots on the team this season, and I can’t wait to see the unit go after the Steelers’ wounded offensive line.

The only chance the Rams have of winning this game is if they can force Roethlisberger into turning the ball over. The Rams will have defensive ends Chris Long and Robert Quinn going after Roethlisberger early and often, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the team blitz even more than it has already this season.

I think the Steelers will be tempted to throw more if Roethlisberger plays. With Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown lining up opposite of the Rams’ makeshift secondary, I can see Roethlisberger standing in the pocket trying to get the ball downfield. That’s where the Rams have a chance to cause Pittsburgh some problems. It’s a risky strategy, but it’s the only hope the Rams have against the mighty Steelers.

In reality, I fully expect the Steelers to come out and run the ball at the Rams regardless of who starts at quarterback. It’s no secret that the Rams have the worst rush defense in the NFL. Even though Rashard Mendenhall has struggled at times this season, the Steelers should be able to open up some holes for him. In fact, if the Steelers are determined enough, I think Mendenhall could easily run for 150 yards on the Rams.

However, if Roethlisberger plays, I think the Steelers might be aggressive enough for the Rams to take advantage of the situation. I know it’s strange for me to say that, but if Roethlisberger is as immobile as he looked against the 49ers, then the Rams have enough talent on the defensive line to cause some problems. I know this is wishful thinking, but at this point in a 2-12 season, that’s all I have.

The smart thing for the Steelers to do would be to have Roethlisberger rest his sprained ankle, but who knows if that will happen. I guess I’ll find out on Saturday.

Derek Ciapala has been a Rams fan since he was a child and the team was in Los Angeles. His favorite Rams moments include Flipper Anderson’s 336-yard receiving night against the Saints in 1989, and their miracle 1999 run to their first Super Bowl victory. You can follow him on Twitter @dciapala.

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