The Pittsburgh Steelers had no problems getting by without Ben
Roethlisberger in their latest game, and there’s a chance they could give their
ailing quarterback another week to rest during their regular-season finale.

The potential for an even more significant week off may sway that decision.

A first-round bye is in sight for the Steelers with a victory over the host
Cleveland Browns on Sunday and some help, but otherwise they’d likely need to
win three times on the road to make a return trip to the Super Bowl.

After suffering a high ankle sprain in a 14-3 win over Cleveland in Week 14,
Roethlisberger played through pain in a 20-3 loss at San Francisco 11 days
later, throwing three interceptions as Pittsburgh blew a chance to stay in the
driver’s seat for the AFC’s top seed.

Needing two wins and a Baltimore loss to win the AFC North and guarantee at
least a first-round bye, the Steelers (11-4) rested Roethlisberger in favor of
Charlie Batch last weekend against St. Louis. Batch threw for 208 yards while
Pittsburgh rode a 116-yard rushing performance from Rashard Mendenhall and a
dominant defensive effort to a 27-0 win.

Baltimore held off a late rally by the Browns to win 20-14 that same day,
but the division’s current leader – by virtue of a head-to-head sweep of the
Steelers – hardly has it easy in Week 17. The Ravens travel to Cincinnati, where
a win would put the Bengals in the playoffs as the AFC’s No. 6 seed and third
qualifier from the North.

A Baltimore loss and Pittsburgh win would give the Steelers the No. 2 seed,
and potentially No. 1 should New England falter. But anything else leaves
Pittsburgh as the AFC’s fifth seed with no week off, almost certainly requiring
the defending conference champions to win three road games to reach a fourth
Super Bowl in seven years.

“There are some scenarios that can unfold, where we can improve our playoff
position,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “We are aware of that. We are also aware that
all of those scenarios include us winning this football game. We are going to do
what we deem necessary for us to put ourselves in position to do that.”

Tomlin said Tuesday that both Roethlisberger and center Maurkice Pouncey -
who’s also nursing a high ankle sprain – have “a shot” to play against Cleveland
(4-11).

The fifth-year coach isn’t sure if Roethlisberger – named Tuesday to his
second Pro Bowl – will be able to practice, but even if he can’t, Tomlin figures
to wait until close to game time to make a decision.

While the Steelers need help from the Bengals – offensive lineman Trai Essex
said he “might peek a couple of times” at the scoreboard – they’re focused on
the Browns, especially considering they didn’t put the Dec. 8 meeting away until
a 79-yard Roethlisberger-to-Antonio Brown touchdown with 2:52 left.

“Cleveland’s going to do whatever they can to put a damper on our season as
much as possible,” Essex told the Steelers’ official website. “They’re not
having the year I’m sure they wanted to, but whenever we play against each other
it doesn’t matter what our record is, we’re going to get their best and they’re
going to get ours.”

Roethlisberger isn’t the only quarterback to have sustained a potentially
significant injury in the first meeting. Browns quarterback Colt McCoy took a
helmet-to-helmet shot from Steelers linebacker James Harrison late in the fourth
quarter, a hit that drew Harrison a one-game suspension and opened the door to
Cleveland’s coaching staff receiving plenty of criticism.

McCoy returned to the game, but was later diagnosed with a concussion. The
decision to send him back in led to the NFL instituting a policy that requires
teams to have a certified athletic trainer in the press box help medical staffs
evaluate injured players.

One of the harshest critics of the Browns’ handling of the situation was
none other than Harrison, who said last week that Cleveland should be
disciplined since he was docked one game.

As for his play, Harrison claims he’s lowered his target area. Browns
linebacker D’Qwell Jackson isn’t so sure.

“Harrison is who he is and whether you fine him, you suspend him, he’s not
going to change,” Jackson said.

McCoy, who missed the past two games, has not been medically cleared and is
unlikely to return for the finale. Seneca Wallace figures to get the call again
after throwing for 373 yards, two TDs and an interception in losses to the
Cardinals and Ravens.

“We have to try to take advantage of every opportunity and make sure we do
it at 100 percent,” Wallace said. “Do it at a high level and minimize mistakes.
Against teams in this division, we can’t give them easy ones.”

As long as Roethlisberger’s been in Pittsburgh, matchups with Cleveland have
typically been just that. The Steelers are 13-1 against the Browns with
Roethlisberger starting, and he’s thrown seven touchdown passes without a pick
in his last four visits to Cleveland.

“You never want to lose to Cleveland,” Steelers safety Ryan Clark said.
“When you are in this city, when you play for this organization, that’s a game
you don’t want to lose.”

Read More: Emmanuel Sanders (WR – PIT), Pittsburgh Steelers, St. Louis Rams

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders doesn’t know “100 percent” if he’ll play Saturday against the St. Louis Rams, reports Scott Brown of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The second-year man has a sore right foot stemming from a surgical procedure he had on it following Pittsburgh’s loss to the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl.

“The most important thing is that I’m there for the playoffs and 100 percent,” Sanders said, according to Brown. “Don’t want this injury to be lingering.”

It seems that Pittsburgh will take a conservative approach with regard to Sanders’ injury. Brown guesses it will rest Sanders on Saturday, while Steelers Depot believes Sanders will miss Pittsburgh’s regular-season finale against the Cleveland Browns as well.

Sanders, 28, has recorded 21 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns in the 2011 campaign. He hasn’t played since Dec. 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs, in which he caught one pass for six yards.

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

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Ben Roethlisberger’s injured left ankle — unlike the lighting at Candlestick Park — held up Monday night against San Francisco

The same can’t be said of his team’s chances of grabbing the top spot in the AFC playoffs.

Roethlisberger passed for 330 yards but also threw three interceptions and fumbled once while basically playing on one leg in a 20-3 loss to the 49ers, a frustrating end to a weird night in which the Steelers let control of the AFC playoff picture slip through their fingers.

Instead of sitting atop the conference with two weeks to go in the regular season, the Steelers (10-4) need to win both of their remaining games and one loss each by Baltimore, New England and Houston to make sure they don’t have to leave Heinz Field in January.

“Yes, we had the ball in our court and we dropped it a little bit,” wide receiver Mike Wallace said. “Having home field is a help but it is not everything. We can still go on the road and win.”

Maybe, but the Steelers haven’t showed it this season. They’re a pedestrian 4-3 on the road, with each of their losses coming against playoff-bound teams.

Though the Steelers are quick to point out they won three games on the road on the way to the 2006 Super Bowl title, this group has some pressing needs to address before the playoffs even start.

Roethlisberger limped his way through four frustrating quarters without further damaging his badly sprained right ankle. He also didn’t look crisp — his three interceptions were on poorly underthrown passes, with all three coming in San Francisco territory.

“I was probably the best 49er,” Roethlisberger said after the Steelers were held without a touchdown for the first time in over two years.

Despite his quarterback’s mobility issues, coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday he never considered pulling Roethlisberger late with the game seemingly out of reach.

“He’s a competitor and I’m not going to deny those guys those opportunities,” Tomlin said. “I think his teammates have an appreciation for that and that’s how we’re built.”

Roethlisberger insisted afterward he got by on “two Advils, two Tylenols” and a hefty dose of adrenaline. He will be re-evaluated Wednesday but will try to play Saturday against reeling St. Louis (2-12) even if he says he’s only “five per cent.”

“I want to be out there. It’s their call to say yes or no,” Roethlisberger said.

The Steelers should get a boost from the return of linebacker James Harrison, who sat out while serving a one-game suspension following a helmet-to-helmet hit on Cleveland’s Colt McCoy on Dec. 8.

The defence held its own, allowing 287 total yards, but failed to create a turnover, forcing the Steelers to go the length of the field to score. Pittsburgh had little trouble moving the ball, converting 8 of 14 third downs, but let numerous scoring opportunities slip away.

The Steelers will be without Mewelde Moore, who hurt his knee and is out indefinitely. Running back Rashard Mendenhall is nursing sore ribs while linebacker LaMarr Woodley’s strained right hamstring is fatigued but otherwise OK.

Pittsburgh will need its stars if it wants to return to the Super Bowl after the lights dimmed on any chance of getting homefield advantage.

“We are not worried about top seed or anything else,” linebacker James Farrior said. “We have two games left in the season and we want to finish up strong.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers have won six Super Bowl Championships in their history. Impressive offensive stats will win the Most Valuable Player Award, Pro Bowl appearances and other individual accolades but the Steelers have achieved all their great success largely because of defense. The first NFL Defensive Player of the Year was awarded in 1971 to Alan Page of the Minnesota Vikings. Since then the Steelers have employed the recipient of the award seven times by six different players.

1972 – “Mean” Joe Greene

Nicknames today aren’t like they used to be. Today nicknames are made up by sportscasters that are trying-and usually failing miserably-to be hip. Either that are players come up with some self-proclaimed name. Back in the 70′s players earned their nicknames and when a player is simply nicknamed “Mean” you know it means a lot.

1974 – “Mean” Joe Greene

Two years later Greene won his second NFL Defensive Player of the Year. During his previous winning season the Pittsburgh Steelers only managed to go to the AFC Championship game. This time the Steelers won the Super Bowl.

1975 – Mel Blount

In 1975 the Steelers won their second straight Super Bowl and along the way they had the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award. Mel Blount played during a time when not all of today’s pass interference rules were in place and he took advantage of it. Blount was constantly jamming the wide receiver and halfway through his career Blount was the main reason that the NFL changed many of the pass defense rules.

1976 – Jack Lambert

Jack Lambert might possibly be the toughest guy that ever played in the NFL. Lambert and his toothless grin terrorized the NFL for years and in 1976 Lambert finally got his turn as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. As strange as it may seem, this was the first time the Steelers had the NFL Player of the Year and a defense that ranked 1^st in team defense.

1993 – Rod Woodson

After winning three consecutive NFL Player of the Year awards and four of the last five it would be a long drought before a Steelers player won again. During the 90′s Woodson was the best player on either side of the ball for the Steelers. Woodson’s 71 interceptions is the third best all-time despite missing the entire 1995 season, the year the Steelers went to the Super Bowl.

2008 – James Harrison

Again the Steelers had a drought but in 2008 James Harrison won the Steelers’ first NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 15 years. When Harrison won the award it was only the second time that a Steeler won the award in a season when the defense was ranked number one. Harrison and the Steelers went on to the Super Bowl and won thanks in large part to a 100 yard interception return by Harrison.

2010 – Troy Polamalu

In 2010 the Steelers went to their second Super Bowl in three years and likewise won their second NFL Defensive Player of the Year in three seasons. Polamalu barely edged out Clay Matthews in the voting but Matthews had the last laugh when his Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl.

Source:

History of NFL Awards, NFL.com

The last several generations of Lee Andrew Henderson’s family were Pittsburgh born and even though he was born in Alabama he has been a long time fan of the Pirates, Steelers and Panthers. Lee Andrew Henderson can be found on Twitter at @LeeAHenderson

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The merger of the NFL and AFL reached its completion in 1970. That season, the AFL became the American Football Conference (AFC), while the NFL teams became a part of the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL transferred the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Colts, and Cleveland Browns to the AFC. As the dynasty of the Green Bay Packers faded in the late 1960′s, the NFL saw the birth of a new dynasty. Below is the list of the top franchises throughout the 1970′s.

Pittsburgh Steelers

After decades of futility, the Steelers emerged into what the Packers were a decade before; an NFL juggernaut. The Steelers won four Super Bowl championships from 1974 to 1979. They clinched a playoff berth in eight consecutive seasons throughout the 1970′s. They won 10 or more games in seven separate seasons. Many identified the Steelers by their relentless defensive unit known as the “Steel Curtain”, allowing less the 200 points scored in five seasons. The Steelers were led by legendary coach Chuck Knoll, as well as the charismatic quarterback Terry Bradshaw, running back Franco Harris, and wide receiver Lynn Swann. The intimidating defense was led by “Mean” Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood.

Dallas Cowboys

While the Steelers were winning Super Bowls, the Cowboys proclaimed themselves as “America’s Team”. They appeared in five Super Bowl games in the 1970′s, more than any other franchise. However, they only brought home two Lombardi trophies with wins over the Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos. The Cowboys enjoyed a winning record in every season during the 1970′s. They won more than 10 games in nine seasons. They were led by a cast of stars such as head coach Tom Landry, quarterback Roger Staubach, running back Tony Dorsett, wide receiver Tony Hill, and defensive ends Randy White and Ed “Too Tall” Jones.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins appeared in three consecutive Super Bowls from 1971 to 1973. After losing to the Cowboys in Super Bowl VI, they responded with two consecutive Super Bowl championships, defeating the Washington Redskins 14-7 and the Minnesota Vikings 24-7. In 1972, Dolphins became the first team in the NFL’s modern era to complete the season with an undefeated record, as they won all 14 regular season games, as well as three postseason matchups. They reached the postseason in seven seasons throughout the 1970′s, and won more than 10 games in nine seasons. The Dolphins of the 1970′s were led by head coach Don Shula, quarterback Bob Griese, running backs Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris, and wide receiver Paul Warfield.

Honorable mentions include Oakland Raiders; Minnesota Vikings; Baltimore Colts

Resource: Pro Football Reference