Prediction
There’s not much to say. It’s now or never for the Steelers, and even then, it may not be enough to get into the playoffs.
After losing Ben Roethlisberger in week two, and multiple games without James Conner, Juju Smith-Schuster, and back-up Mason Rudolph, it’s hard not to be proud of what this team has accomplished, despite starting off 0-3 and 1-4.
They could’ve easily tossed in the white towel and played for a top draft pick, but the team traded for Minkah Fitzpatrick, turning a good defense into a great one, and giving the team a fighting chance every week.
It was incredible to see them at 8-5, getting a shot at the #5 seed, but turnovers and lack of an offense finally caught up to this team the last two weeks. Now it is what it is, and no matter what happens this Sunday, the players, coaches, and fans can hold their heads high and be proud of a team that stared adversity in the face and fought to the bitter end. They never once quit or complained about the situation they were placed in.
This week expect to see this team fight and claw itself out of the corner and find a way to put some points on the board vs a Ravens team that will be resting their star players for the playoffs. This is a proud team and defense that would like to make one final statement, and perhaps lay the groundwork for the 2020 season when Ben Roethlisberger returns, perhaps setting up one final Super Bowl run for this core of players, and returning the Steelers to the ranks of the elite.
If they’re going down, they’re going down fighting.
“Maybe I was trying to force a ball a little bit instead of what they’re giving me,” Duck Hodges said about his last two games. “I have to take a step back a little bit and go back to how I was playing those first couple games and taking what the defense gives me.
“I’ve got all the confidence in the world in myself and my guys. Now, we just have to go out and do it.”