But the Jets would be smart to let Ravens 20, Steelers 17 in Baltimore serve as the most important lesson standing before them as they play the Bills Sunday in Orchard Park with control of their playoff destiny in hand.
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Steelers playoff scenario: The Steelers will be in the playoffs with a win and Jets loss.
Game mismanagement: + The Steelers gave the Browns three points before the half by saving time for them on Pittsburgh’s second scoring drive.
The Browns are hoping for a little revenge and pride as they finish the 2015 season.
“The roles have reversed”.
“We find our edge playing in front of the home crowd”, Carolina QB Cam Newton said. They may not be the most exciting squad the Steelers field, but they have held together well since Boswell’s hiring. We accept full responsibility for that. Of course, he doesn’t consider whether it’s smart, he has told us he just listens to his belly. “We’re trying to cut this tree down”.
And when Buffalo completed its win over the Jets, the Steelers were back in the postseason.
The scenarios are the same, just a week apart.
“We’re going to try and learn from Pittsburgh and Baltimore last week, ” coach Todd Bowles said.
“Shouldn’t have to, ” he said.
Ravens players have downplayed their possible spoiler role in recent weeks, as they’ve played three straight against playoff contenders. “I’m not looking for comfort”. The offense earned all 16 of their first downs on the pass and had an abysmal third-down conversion rate of 2/8 or 25 percent, but benefited from relatively strong play from the offensive line that did not allow a single sack. That came three plays after Roethlisberger threw his second interception of the day, which linebacker Craig Robertson returned 38 yards to the Steelers’ 9. “So the preparation in practice and the energy right now is at an all-time high. We are focused on going to work now”.
Jets players, to a man, scoff at any notion the Bills, with no playoff carrot to chase, are ready to mail in this last game and get on with their offseason. “We are fully committed to bringing our fans the winning organization they so clearly deserve”. He is the best receiver in the game.
“Some people would say the Bills are eliminated from the playoffs, it’s cold, their bags are packed, ” Reilly said. However, there were enough plays, most notably a horrendous illegal contact call on James Harrison made vehemently by an official who was totally wrong, to be thankful these guys (and gal) won’t get a chance to muck up a playoff game. It’s a path the franchise followed to its fifth Super Bowl title a decade ago, a point in time when Roethlisberger was still an NFL neophyte and the defense was the best in the league. The game is this Saturday at 8:15 ET. Nor has receiver Brandon Marshall, the team’s MVP.
This is the second season in a row that Manziel has not started the last game of the season but was spotted drinking the day before. I’ll talk more about that later. “I certainly didn’t and I don’t think anybody in our building did”.
Bowles on Friday was quick to remind everyone this: “We haven’t done anything yet”. The 2012 Heisman Trophy victor hasn’t lived up to expectations on the field and continues to be a headache off it. He spent 73 days in a rehab facility during the offseason, got benched by Pettine for two games during the year for misbehavior and missed Sunday’s game with a concussion.
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