PITTSBURGH (AP) — A game the Pittsburgh Steelers were hoping would mean nothing now means everything, and they know it.
The Steelers (11-4) wanted to have the AFC North and a playoff bye wrapped up by now. They don’t, and that means Sunday’s game at Cleveland has the potential to significantly damage their chances of winning the Super Bowl even before the NFL playoffs begin.
Win, and the Steelers will take the division, earn a playoff bye and own home-field advantage for at least the second round of the playoffs. Lose to the Browns (5-10) in a major upset and the Steelers likely will be relegated to being seeded sixth in the AFC, with no chance for a home game and no time off before they open the wild-card playoffs next week.
