The first win of the 2011 Indianapolis Colts‘ season means the Pittsburgh Steelers will be at worst a wild card in the post-season.
One of a few playoff-clinching scenarios for Pittsburgh was a Tennessee loss. Considering how poorly Indianapolis has played the last few weeks, it seemed a Colts win was very unlikely.
And somehow, it happened. Pittsburgh will advance to the post-season for the fourth time coach Mike Tomlin’s five-year reign as the Steelers head coach. They can win a second consecutive AFC North championship by winning out and a Baltimore loss at some point in the next three games. The Ravens are in San Diego for tonight’s prime time game.
On the same day the league lost its last undefeated team – Kansas City scored a 19-14 upset over visiting Green Bay – the Colts avoided becoming the first winless team since the 2008 Lions.
The Steelers were the AFC’s 5th seed heading into Week 15. The Ravens are in control of their own fate for the AFC North title, but Pittsburgh hasn’t faltered despite two losses to the Ravens this season.
Pittsburgh will be short-handed for Monday Night’s game with San Francisco, but the question now becomes whether today’s postseason berth and tonight’s Ravens game will change the Steelers personnel strategy.
Source: Behind the Steel Curtain
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