2015 NFL Playoff Picture: Week 3
By Martin Bater
AFC Bubble Teams
- Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1)
Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports
Any happiness that might have come along with their gritty 12-6 win on the road against the St. Louis Rams was wiped away by Ben Roethlisberger’s left knee injury.
Big Ben’s sprained MCL will keep him on the sidelines for at least a month, with Michael Vick as his replacement.
Vick won’t have much time to adjust, since the Steelers host the desperate Ravens on Thursday night before facing the San Diego Chargers on the road, playing at home against the Cardinals and visiting the Chiefs.
In other words, Mike Tomlin is crossing his fingers to have his star QB back by November 1, when the Bengals arrive in Pittsburgh.
This could get ugly in a hurry unless the defense steps up and remembers its glory days. However, James Harrison and Troy Polamalu in their primes are not about to step through that door anytime soon.
- Oakland Raiders (2-1)
Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
How about the Raiders? They have a winning record in the month of September for the first time since 2011 and Derek Carr, their second year quarterback, has had back- to-back 300+ passing yard games with five touchdowns and just one interception.
His connection with rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper is also impressive, as this 40-yard touchdown can attest.
The ability to make big plays is what separates good teams from the merely mediocre ones, and that is what the Raiders have been able to do for the past two weeks.
They face the Chicago Bears next, which is the equivalent of an early Christmas gift, before playing two consecutive division games against the Denver Broncos and the Chargers. That will be a true litmus test of their legitimacy.
Next: AFC Wild Cards