Let's get to it:
EDITOR'S NOTE: Here are the Week 18 scenarios that will determine what the Steelers likely will be facing on Super Wild Card Weekend (Jan. 11-13).
If the Ravens defeat the Browns at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday in Baltimore, they clinch first place in the AFC North Division. The only way the Steelers can win the AFC North is for the Browns to win in Baltimore and for the Steelers to defeat the Bengals on Saturday at 8 p.m. in Acrisure Stadium. If that happens and the Steelers win the AFC North, they would open the postseason with a home game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The more likely scenario has the Ravens defeating the Browns, which would send the Steelers into the playoffs as a Wild Card. If the Ravens and Steelers both win, the Steelers would travel to Houston for a game vs. the AFC South Champion Texans. If the Ravens win, the Steelers lose, and the Chargers defeat Las Vegas, it would be Pittsburgh at Baltimore in the first round of the playoffs.
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JOHN BROWNING FROM WHITEVILLE, NC: Is there a specific, undisclosed, rational explanation for Hines Ward's continued exclusion from induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame? His stats more than justify his status as a Hall of Fame player.
ANSWER: The problem with all individual awards/honors given in team sports is that they are determined by a vote. It's an election, and in different ways and to varying degrees elections are popularity contests. I agree that Hines Ward's statistics reach the milestones in enough of the categories typically considered by the voters. But there seems to have been a pecking order determined in the voters' minds when it comes to wide receivers, and that's to be deduced from Torry Holt, Reggie Wayne, and Steve Smith Sr., advancing through the voting this year to be among the 15 finalists and Ward did not. And while this is something that I personally believe and have no way of proving, a Steelers fatigue exists among the voters. Or if you want to view things another way, maybe there is some subconscious sentiment among the voters to give players from less-recognized franchises a chance to join the club. Some of these voters watched Lynn Swann and John Stallworth play when the Steelers dominated the 1970s and it's possible some of them were part of the group that elected Swann in 2001 and Stallworth in 2002 to the Hall of Fame. There have been occasions when a Steelers player has chosen a former teammate as his presenter in an effort to garner some attention for that candidacy, as Alan Faneca did with Ward in 2021. Let me conclude by saying that after covering every game of Hines Ward's professional career, I perceive him as a Hall of Fame player. If I had a vote, I would vote for him.
RAUL CASAS FROM NORTH YORK, ONTARIO, CANADA: Is it possible for the Steelers to come to Toronto to play an international game?
ANSWER: The Steelers actually played a preseason game in Toronto on Aug. 14, 2008. The game was against the Buffalo Bills and was held in the Rogers Centre as the first of an 8-game series the Bills played in Toronto over 5 seasons as an attempt to expand the team's fan base into Canada. Since that "Bills playing in Toronto" experiment ended, the NFL has been careful and thoughtful about playing games in Canada because it doesn't want to damage the interest in, and marketability of, the CFL in its home country. Currently, I would expect the NFL to concentrate its efforts on growing professional football to Europe, Mexico, and South America.
MICHAEL STEWART FROM GRANGER, IN: What are the chances the Steelers rest players against the Bengals if Baltimore beats Cleveland on Saturday?
ANSWER: If you're thinking about the kind of "resting" that would happen if the Steelers' postseason seeding had been completely determined, I do not believe Coach Mike Tomlin is interested in that, primarily because of this three-game losing streak. Here is what he said about it at his news conference.
• "Certainly, (the Bengals are) a motivated group trying to play their way into this tournament, but certainly we're a motivated group, to be quite honest with you. We've got to get the stench of the last few performances off of us, and there's no better way to do that than a home divisional win vs. a formidable group going into the tournament … I think it's significant how we go into this tournament, and so I doubt that I'll be in that mentality (of resting players) that you mentioned."
SEAN DELANEY FROM GARDNER, MA: The NFL put the Ravens game first on Saturday. If the Ravens win – thus clinching the division – how important does the Steelers game become? They desperately need to "get right" before the playoffs, so everybody healthy plays. Do you think they might sit or limit guys (i.e., George Pickens, T.J. Watt, Larry Ogunjobi, DeShon Elliott) with lesser injuries should the division no longer be up for grabs? I'd much rather win and play Houston, but giving key contributors nearly three weeks off may help reset the team for a deep playoff run.
ANSWER: During the regular season NFL rosters are limited to 53 players, and there are only 47 players in uniform for the game. That doesn't allow for much wiggle room when it comes to trying to "reset the team for a deep playoff run," and my experience is that "nearly three weeks off" can also result in a team being stale once it returns to action. I would guess the Steelers view the game vs. the Bengals as something of a dress rehearsal for the playoffs and see it as an opportunity to sharpen their sword against a talented and motivated opponent that understands it's in a win-or-go-home situation. Because that's what they're going to find in the playoffs – talented and motivated opponents that understand it's win-or-go-home.
VINCE SCOTTI FROM COLUMBIA, SC: I remember reading some time ago that in Pittsburgh, it's often the No. 2 quarterback for the Steelers who's the most popular guy in town. This is especially the case when the No. 1 quarterback has a bad game or string of bad games. The crowd turned on Terry Bradshaw any number of times in that scenario. Don't you think that given recent "performances" it is time to let Justin Fields back in?
ANSWER: You're confusing popularity with something that should influence the pecking order at quarterback. How many times did Chuck Noll allow the fans' reaction to the play of Terry Bradshaw influence him to make a change at the position. "None" would be the correct answer.
LITO ARBALLO FROM COVINA, CA: Roman Wilson has barely been on the field this season. Are there any updates on Roman Wilson?
ANSWER: After being injured on the sixth snap of the first practice in pads at Saint Vincent College, WR Roman Wilson hasn't been on the field at all this season. On Dec. 31, the Steelers announced they had opened the 21-day practice windows for ILB Cole Holcomb (physically unable to perform list) and Wilson and DT Logan Lee (both on injured reserve). On the Dec. 31 practice report, Wilson (hamstring) was listed as a full participant, Holcomb (knee) was limited, and Lee (calf) was limited. All 3 players will remain on those respective lists, but they are eligible to be activated to the 53-man roster at any time. I wouldn't expect to see any of them playing on Saturday vs. the Bengals, however.
