The Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) are 2½-point underdogs on their home turf against the 8-8 Cincinnati Bengals for Saturday night’s regular-season finale.
That’s the same Bengals team that the Steelers beat 44-38 on Dec. 1.
But after three losses in four tries for the Steelers since then — and four straight wins by the Bengals — Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X says don’t be surprised.
“When you look at how bad this team has played the last few weeks, how they got physically dominated by three superior teams (Philadelphia, Baltimore and Kansas City), and you look at Cincinnati on a hot streak with something to play for, maybe that sounds about right,” Madden said during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast.
Indeed, the Bengals will have something to play for as they could still wind up as the final wild card in the AFC playoff bracket if they win this weekend and the Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos both lose.
As for the Steelers, if the 11-5 Baltimore Ravens beat the 3-13 Cleveland Browns as expected at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, then they will sew up the AFC North. By extension, then all the Steelers will be playing for that night is potentially to be either the No. 1 or No. 2 wild card. If they win, they get to go to Houston to play the Texans. If they lose to Cincy, the Steelers would then have to travel to Baltimore if the 10-6 Los Angeles Chargers beat the 4-12 Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
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“What if they lose to Cincinnati and then lose their first-round playoff game,” Madden wondered out loud. “That’s what (stinks) about the whole organization. Nothing is ever on the line. The coach will never get fired. They’re going to bring Russ (Wilson) back, no matter what. They’re going to sign (George) Pickens long-term, no matter what. They should be thinking about major changes if they lose out, and they just won’t be.”
Madden says a lot of that issue is wrapped up in the image the national media has of Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin because he’s never had a losing season since taking over in 2007.
“As I say repeatedly, this streak of no losing seasons is a Ben (Roethlisberger) streak. Not a Tomlin streak,” Madden insisted. “By the way, how long is Tomlin going to be Teflon with the national media if they lose out?”
Based on recent history? Eh, probably through the offseason and into training camp of 2025. That’d be my best guess.
Also, during the podcast, Madden and I talk about the joke that “Hard Knocks” has become, the NFL MVP vote, the quest to find out who the scapegoat is on defense, the Penguins split with the Islanders, the College Football Playoff, “Hamilton,” Pop Tarts and more.