Steel City Jim

Here we are, having completed Week 15, and from a Steelers' point of view, the playoffs are a reality, although where is still up in the air. If the Steelers win on Sunday in Cleveland, they will clinch first place in the AFC North and enjoy the second seed in the AFC. This will give them a bye week and at least one home game. If they lose in Cleveland and Baltimore wins its game, the Ravens will get the bye week and at least one home game.

The Steelers, the oldest team in the league, sorely (and I use the word "sorely" advisedly) need the bye week to rest their ailing bones. So, they have a great incentive to win at Cleveland. But it would make the Browns' season if they are able to knock the Steelers off their perch. It will be the old "Turnpike Rivalry" all over again, and the Steelers better be ready for it.

Of course, there is speculation around here as to how far the Steelers can go in the playoffs. Much will depend on the health of one Troy Polamalu. Polamalu makes things happen on defense. The rest of his teammates feed off him when he is in there. The dropoff to Ryan Mundy is palpable. So, with Polamalu ready and able to play, the Steelers can do all right. Without him, it can be a short playoffs.

Another factor is the possible return of Aaron Smith. When healthy, Smith makes a huge difference in the Steelers' defense. The guy is a force. But he's been out with a torn bicep since Oct. 24. They never put him on IR, hoping that he would be well enough for the playoffs. Lately, he has been lifting weights and is being fitted with a new shoulder brace. So, it looks like he could be on target to participate in the playoffs, and especially if the Steelers get the bye week. Some speculate on his effectiveness, however. They wonder how quickly he can adapt to the pace of playoff football after being out so long. But that's what they pay the coaches the big bucks ... to determine whether he is ready.

Having said all the above, it's academic that the Patriots are the odds-on favorites to win the AFC championship. They are simply playing on another level from the rest of, at least, the AFC. They kill any and all comers. It's a wonder that they lost two games this season. And the way they do it is stunning. They score two or three touchdowns before their opponents have even warmed up. Then, their defense stomps them and the game is virtually over before it begins. This pattern is evident week after week after week.

We are say that football is the ultimate team game. Obviously, all aspects of the game and all players have to be on one page to assure a win. Blockers have to block and protect, receivers must get open, etc. Some individual players are key, too. Polamalu is a good example. But when you check out the standings at or near the end of the season, one thing stands out ... those teams with a franchise quarterback are in the playoffs. You can have a franchise quarterback without a supporting cast who doesn't get in, i.e. Carson Palmer, but all teams in the playoffs have one. Here they are with the quarterback and Steel City Jim Rating:

New England: Brady A+
Baltimore: Flacco A (Couldn't crack Pitt's lineup, transferred to Delaware, and the rest is history.)
Pittsburgh: Roethlisberger A
Indianapolis P. Manning A+
Kansas City: Cassel A- (Here's that Belichick again, drafting Matt Leinart's college backup.)
Philadelphia Vick A
Atlanta: Ryan A
Chicago: Culter A-
St. Louis: Bradford B+ and coming
New Orleans: Brees A+

If you don't think franchise quarterbacks are key, just ask Ken Whisenhunt of the Cardinals.

By the way, the Lions and Browns have awakened from their long slumber, and each, with their respective franchise quarterbacks improving by the day, will make noise in 2011.

** They are playing an Ice Bowl hockey game at Heinz Field on Saturday. They actually construct an ice rink on the field and two major rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals will square off. It's quite a spectacle that started in 2003 in Edmonton, but became a New Year's Day staple beginning with the 2008 game in Buffalo. Seats prices start at something like $145. StubHub has them for something like $450. And scalpers are getting north of $1,000! To me, that's a lot of money to spend to sit outside in January in Pittsburgh to see 1/60th of a hockey season that really doesn't start until the playoffs anyway. I'm glad to see that some people are crazy enough to pay those prices. It affords me, the armchair fan, the opportunity to see the game for nothing in the warmth of my house while the others are paying the bloated salaries that the players command and get.

** I was going to give baseball a break this week, but then The New York Times' Sunday magazine was devoted to important people who had died in 2010. One was George Steinbrenner. Now, I don't mean to demean the deceased, but this was the guy who stood at the door and refused to allow real revenue sharing of the TV take among all the teams. For me, it helped to ruin baseball, which caused my usual ending of "baseball sucks." It does, in large part thanks to George.