1 game...1 play

Well, the Steelers season is finally over. Nice way to end, especially if this is Cowher's last hurrah. Looking at the final season stats, amazing to see how many yards Holmes ended up with. But the sad thing is that after the Denver amazing collapse against San Francisco, the Steelers would have made the playoffs with just one more win. In fact, you can probably argue that if any one of the following plays goes the Steelers way, they would have made the playoffs. The list of plays that will live in infamy for this season:
- Ben throws a INT in the end zone (common theme) in the 1st half in the 1st game against Cincy. Could have almost salted the game away right there.
- Coclough fumbles away the 4th quarter punt against Cincy when the Steelers have the game in control.
- Hayes fumbles against Cincy, allowing them to take the lead.
- Nate Washington false start against Atlanta prevents game winning field goal attempt.
- Ben INT at the goal line against OAK returned for a TD. Turn that into a FG instead and the Steelers win.
- Parker fumbles against the Ravens in game 2.

Oh well...on to next year. Schedule looks tough:
- 2 vs. Baltimore/Cincy/Cleveland (4-2 should always be the goal)
- NFC teams: Seattle/SF at home (tough games but both at home). At AZ (could be tough). At STL.
- AFC East: At NE (ouch.). At NYJ (could be rough). Buffalo and Miami at home (nice.)
- Other AFC: Denver and Jacksonville (egads...)

What a waste of time...

...spent this week contemplating all the ways that the Steelers could make the playoffs. Sounds like they had zero chance today. The Parker fumble was the final dagger in a bad, sad season. And it looks like had they won, they really would have had a chance next week given the way that the early games are trending. But they simply made mistakes too many times this year; you absolutely cannot argue that this team deserved to make the playoffs this year.

Oh well, now on to rooting for Pitt hoops. Nice win yesterday against Dayton. Basically a week off before their next game, which should be a gimme against Florida A&M.

1 down...lots more to go

OK, the Chiefs beat the Raiders. That is a good thing for the Steelers.

Looking at tomorrow's early games. We want:
- Pittsburgh over Baltimore
- Tennessee over Buffalo
- New England over Jacksonville

If we get those 3...

More Playoff Scenarios

This guy puts my attempt at the scenario analysis to shame:
http://www.pittsburghtitle.com

Playoff Scenarios

The official NFL scenarios for week 15 are now up: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9817776

Biggest note from here is that the Steelers canbe eliminated with:
- Cincy beats Indy
- Denver beats Cincy
- Jets lose to Miami
- Jacksonville loses to New England
- Kansas City loses to Oakland

How the Steelers are guaranteed to make the playoffs: (no tiebreakers required):

In all cases, the following must happen (assuming the Steelers win both games of course):
- Miami beats Jets
- New England beats Jacksonville
- Oakland beats Kansas City
- Oakland beats Jets
- Kansas City beats Jacksonville

Scenario 1:
- Indy beats Cincy
- Cincy beats Denver
- Tennessee beats Buffalo
- San Franciso beats Denver
- New England beats Tennessee
Scenario 2:
- Indy beats Cincy
- Cincy beats Denver
- Buffalo beats Tennessee
- San Francisco beats Denver
- Baltimore beats Buffalo
Scenario 3:
- Indy beats Cincy
- Denver beats Cincy
- Tennessee beats Buffalo
- New England beats Tennessee
Scenario 4:
- Indy beats Cincy
- Denver beats Cincy
- Buffalo beats Tennessee
- Baltimore beats Buffalo
Scenario 5:
- Cincy beats Indy
- Cincy beats Denver
- Tennessee beats Buffalo
- San Francisco beats Denver
- New England beats Tennessee
Scenario 6:
- Cincy beats Indy
- Cincy beats Denver
- Buffalo beats Tennessee
- San Francisco beats Denver
- Baltimore beats Buffalo