Packers Could Clinch Playoff Spot Sunday
By PackerAaron
The Packers are most likely, baring the Cowboys pulling off the upset Saturday night, going to be playing this Sunday afternoon knowing that if they win their game against the Steelers, they are in the playoffs. Indeed, Sunday will feature a Packers team on the cusp of wrapping up a playoff berth and a Steelers team, losers of five straight, fighting to stay relevant in the post season discussion.
Don't let the fact that the Steelers have lost so many games in a row fool you into thinking this is a poor team - it most certainly isn't. As Andy Benoit points out over at The Fifth Down:
The NFL Network shared a startling statistic Thursday night: When Cleveland went up, 13-0, midway through the second quarter, it was the first time this season that Pittsburgh had trailed by more than 7 points. How remarkable is this? The last team not to fall behind by 7 at any point through the first 12 games in a season was the 1998 Denver Broncos.
There’s no doubt the Steelers have struggled in 2009. With Troy Polamalu out of the lineup, Pittsburgh’s defense – particularly the secondary – has been inconsistent and prone to mental errors. Offensively, a lot of the pass protection blunders that hurt the team early last year have reappeared. But above all else, sloppy special teams – mainly a kick coverage unit that, according to data crunched by Football Outsiders, is the worst this decade – has been the Achilles’ heel.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday that special-teams coach Bob Ligashesky could be fired at the end of the season. Ligashesky’s removal would be the team’s first coaching change since Tomlin took over.
The Steelers have the league’s ninth-ranked offense and fourth-ranked defense. Their problems have been special teams, a minus-five turnover differential and poor execution late in fourth quarters. All are fixable problems. One could argue that the Steelers are a very good team that just happens to be 6-7.
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.
__________________________
Comments (13)
December 15, 2009 at 09:59 am
Wow, I didn't realize that the Packers were so close to clinching! I think the Packers should treat this as a playoff game, and don't let up in the 2nd & 3rd quarters!
Aaron, what happened to "My Ugly Mug Pt. 2"?
JUST as I was about to watch it, it went offline!
December 15, 2009 at 10:10 am
Here is a question? Is this the best draft class of TT tenure? If so why? If not why?
December 15, 2009 at 10:14 am
The current SB Champions, at home, are ALLWAYS favorite. That's the way I see it.
-
But early in the season, I've allways considered this a L. Now I think we can pull it off, specially without Polamalu.
-
Also, I saw a defense thursday night that wasn't imposing itself on the other team. Something ours has been doing. I saw a very beatable team.
-
But IMHO they're favorites.
December 15, 2009 at 10:27 am
They're by no means a bad team at 6-7 -- that'd be very hard to argue. But I don't see them being a great team who got unlucky, either. When you lose to the Chiefs, Raiders, and Browns, you have some issues that extend beyond crap special teams. Super Bowl hangover? Aging D? Who knows. They're good, but so is the Pack. And I'd much rather be riding a 5-game winning streak than a 5-game bleeder, that much I will say.
December 15, 2009 at 10:30 am
even if the giants win out?
December 15, 2009 at 10:38 am
Yes, asshalo because one NFC east will win the division, and one or two would be the wildcard, and since we have a game lead and a tiebreaker over the boys we'd clinch with two games since we at virtually two games up right now, well clinch if giants lose n we win due to conference record over them.
PackerAaron
December 15, 2009 at 10:39 am
Thanks Alex S - I was just going to answer "Yes". ;)
December 15, 2009 at 11:04 am
The Steelers can be had but this will be a tough defensive battle....
________________
My pick: Packers 19 Steelers 17.
Crosby hits the game winner late to wrap up a playoff spot.
December 15, 2009 at 11:52 am
WoodyG, you forgot the key Jarrett Bush interception, saving Woodson that was out of position in the play...
December 15, 2009 at 03:36 pm
What if it came to the Vikings beating the Giants to put the Pack in.Just another nightmare I had.
December 15, 2009 at 04:07 pm
This reeks of trap game. The Pack will have to keep playing and keep their focus through an entire 60 minutes of football to win this game.
December 15, 2009 at 06:05 pm
"Playing the Steelers at their house" and "Reeks of a trap game" have never before, and should never again, be in the same line of thought.
.
I don't think anyone has ever thought walking into Pittsburgh and winning is automatic.
December 16, 2009 at 06:16 pm
Oppy - kudos. What are the odds of Pitt losing a consecutive game on their own turf? Don't get me wrong - I want the Pack to win, especially against the reigning Super Bowl champs - but this is going to be a tough game because... the Steelers are playing THE PACKERS and who wouldn't get up for this game??!!
However, If the Packers' O-line can control the line of scrimmage then its a win for the Green n' Gold! GO PACK GO!!