On the Steelers: Browns game means everything
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Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley on playing the Browns Sunday: "We have to take care of Cleveland. Last year, when we played Cleveland down there, they took care of business on us."
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The Steelers already have clinched a playoff berth, but for them, the road to the Super Bowl goes through ... Cleveland?
Yes, Cleveland, which is again on the outside watching others fight or prepare for their playoff berths for the seventh consecutive season. Cleveland, which finished last in the division six of the past seven seasons. Cleveland, on the verge of a possible coaching change for the fourth time in the past seven years.
It's that same Cleveland, which knocked the Steelers out of the playoffs last season with a stunning 13-6 upset victory at home.
"We went up there and laid an egg," Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel recalls of that bitterly cold, windy December Thursday night in Cleveland. "We're not trying to do that again."
The stakes are more vital this time.
The difference between winning and losing in Cleveland for the Steelers may be the difference between having a clear path to the AFC championship game and having little chance of coming near it.
The game Sunday in Cleveland means everything. To put it in simple terms, here is the difference for the Steelers between beating the Browns and earning the No. 2 seed in the conference and losing and having to go on the road as a wild-card playoff team:
A win -- The Steelers have off Jan. 8/9 and open play at home Jan. 15/16 for the right to advance to the AFC championship game, which also could be at home if New England loses.
A loss -- The Steelers would make plans for a road trip Jan. 8/9 probably at Kansas City, for the right to play on the road again Jan. 15/16 at New England, for the right to advance to the AFC championship game on the road.
See?
It's not just the extra week's rest they would earn with the bye, but the free pass into the next round and a guaranteed home game.
"It's huge for us," said Casey Hampton. "We definitely need it. If you get a bye, it gets you closer to the Super Bowl. You only have to win two games instead of three. Anything can happen in the playoffs so you want to play as least games as possible trying to get there."
First Published December 28, 2010 12:00 am
