Suddenly, playoffs not a certainty for Steelers

PITTSBURGH -- Almost since training camp started, the Pittsburgh Steelers have dismissed getting into the playoffs as a mere formality, a gimme putt for the team once considered the AFC favorite.

Suddenly, that easy putt looks more like a twisting, downhill 10-footer with a discernible break. The Steelers (7-5-1) still lead the AFC North, but their seemingly comfortable 1 1/2 -game lead of a week ago has shrunk to a half-game lead over Cleveland (7-6) with three games to play.

Even the Baltimore Ravens (6-7), dismissed before the season began as being too stripped down to contend against a team like the Steelers, aren't out of the division race. They've got games left against the Browns and Steelers, creating the outside possibility their Dec. 29 game at Pittsburgh will be for the division title.

"Obviously, with the expectations from this season, there's been a lot of pressure to go out and perform at a high level," Steelers cornerback Dewayne Washington said Wednesday. "Teams have been giving us their 'A' game and sometimes we've come up short. But this last stretch, we've got to be playing our best ball to get into the playoffs, and then the season starts over again."

The Steelers' predicament is the result of their inexplicable 24-6 upset loss Sunday to Houston in which they played one of the best defensive games in their history, yet lost by 18 points to a first-year team.

Coach Bill Cowher, normally quick to distance his team from any loss, said it might take a little longer to get over this one.

"We have to be careful not to let five or six plays in that game dictate our mindset," Cowher said. "I don't want five or six plays to be the overriding memory."

Good luck on that. If the Steelers somehow don't make the playoffs or don't make a dent during them, the most vivid memory of their season to many will be the sight of Houston returning three Tommy Maddox turnovers for touchdowns.

As a result, the Steelers are back in a race they no doubt expected to have finished by now.

"Yeah, there has to be a sense of urgency," Maddox said. "Our run has to start this weekend. We have to start putting all three phases of the game together - offense, defense and special teams - and if we do that, we're going to be tough to beat."

The Steelers will win the division by sweeping their final three: Carolina (5-8) at home Sunday, at Tampa Bay (10-3) on Dec. 23 and Baltimore. Should they lose once or twice, the Browns or Ravens could sneak in.

The Browns play Indianapolis (8-5) at home Sunday, at Baltimore on Dec. 22 and at home against Atlanta (8-4-1) on Dec. 29. That game could be meaningless to the Falcons, who might have a playoff spot wrapped up by then.

Baltimore plays at Houston (4-9) on Sunday before taking on the Browns at home and Pittsburgh on the road.

"We don't worry about other teams, we worry about what we can control," receiver Hines Ward said. "We can't worry about Cleveland or Baltimore, we've got to worry about the Steelers - and about the next game."

Despite what Cowher said, Maddox said the players must put Houston behind them quickly, or they'll be taking last week's game - and last week's mistakes - onto the field Sunday.

"The main thing about this team is everybody still realizes we're in first place," he said. "Everybody is talking about this and about that, but the thing you want to do first is win your division, and we've got a chance to do that."