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Monday, December 30, 2013

The Steelers Weren't As Close As You Think To A Playoff Spot

The kick went wide right.  It was hard for Steelers fans to digest, even though it took place in a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Diego Chargers.  A Chiefs win would send the Steelers to the playoffs.  A win by the Chargers would send themselves to the playoffs, and knock the Steelers into the offseason.  Kansas City, despite only starting two of its twenty-two starters, held a ten point lead in the fourth quarter.  The Chargers tied the game, setting up the Chiefs, led by backup QB Chase Daniel, with a chance to mount a game winning drive with the clock winding down.  Daniel and his offense marched down the field, into field goal range.  They were content to run down the clock, and attempt a field goal as the clock expired.  Steeler fans were already clearing their schedules for next weekend. Except the kick missed. San Diego would go on to win it in overtime.

You could blame the Kansas City kicker. It would be easy. But why would this Steelers team make the playoffs?  Sure, they had an impressive win here and there.  But there were too many blunders, too much incompetence, and too many errors.

Should a team who got essentially shut out through three quarters by the Tennessee Titans make the playoffs? Should a team who gave up the ball three times in the first quarter to the 8-8 Chicago Bears make the playoffs? Should a team who allowed the lowly Minnesota Vikings (led by Matt Cassel, no less!) make their defense look silly make the playoffs?

Should a team who allowed Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor to run ninety-three yards for a touchdown on the first play of the game make the playoffs?  What about a team who allowed fifty-five points to the New England Patriots?  Or the team that gave the Baltimore Ravens a free pass into the secondary, and killed their own rally by allowing Jacoby Jones to take a kickoff back for a "touchdown" (it only wasn't a touchdown because of Mike Tomlin's hijinx on the sideline)?  Maybe the team that let that Miami Dolphins receiver break three tackles (at once) and score a game winning touchdown?

That's what I thought.  There were far too many idiotic moments for this team to earn a playoff berth.  If they had won just one of the games I cited above, they would have been in the playoffs. Regardless of the Chiefs kicker.


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