San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Pressure’s on for Steelers after first defeat
Now that an undefeated season is gone, the Pittsburgh Steelers almost seem vulnerable. Losing at home to an NFC East team will give you that look.
The Steelers (11-1) suddenly see the vise closing in the race for the AFC’s top seed and only playoff bye. They are tied with Kansas City, though Pittsburgh owns the tiebreaker for now.
And this Sunday, in prime time, Pittsburgh heads to Buffalo (9-3), the AFC East leader.
The Steelers can wrap up the AFC North with a win and a loss by Cleveland to Baltimore on Monday night. The Steelers also will clinch a playoff spot with a win or a loss by Las Vegas, Miami or Tennessee.
Buffalo also has some scenarios to get in this weekend, but must win.
KANSAS CITY AT MIAMI
Kansas City will clinch the AFC West with a victory or a tie, or a Raiders loss against the Colts.
With a win, the Chiefs would have the best 13game record in franchise history and would reach 12 wins for the third consecutive season, the longest streak in club history. Kansas City also could set a franchise record with its 10th straight road win.
The Dolphins have won seven of their past eight and their 12-game record is their best since 2003. Miami’s streak of at least one takeaway in 18 consecutive games is the longest in the NFL. Cornerback Xavien Howard made his NFL-leading eighth interception last week before he was ejected for throwing a punch.
BALTIMORE AT CLEVELAND
Cleveland quieted critics with a sensational first half in its victory at Tennessee and can further solidify its AFC standing by taking down the Ravens on Monday night. Baltimore routed the Browns 38-6 to open 2020 and gets back tight end Mark Andrews after missing the past two games on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Kevin Stefanski’s 12game record is the best for a new Browns coach since Blanton Collier also went 9-3 in 1963.
MINNESOTA AT TAMPA BAY
Quarterback Tom Brady is 5-0 and has thrown for 1,311 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions in five career starts against the Vikings with New England. He’s 14-4 in 18 career regular-season games following a bye, with 4,573 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and nine interceptions in those games.
Minnesota has won five of six to get back in the NFC playoff race. They have a 3,000-yard passer (Kirk Cousins), 1,000-yard rusher (Dalvin Cook) and 1,000-yard receiver ( Justin Jefferson) in the same season for the eighth time in franchise history and in consecutive years for the first time since 1997-98.
INDIANAPOLIS AT LAS VEGAS
Two teams in the AFC playoff chase, with the Colts in the mix for the South title along with Tennessee, and the Raiders seeking a wild-card spot from the West.
Philip Rivers will make his 29th start against the Raiders, the most by any quarterback in the regular season.
GREEN BAY AT DETROIT
The Packers can clinch the NFC North with a win and a loss by Minnesota at Tampa Bay. Beating Detroit is a matter of course for Aaron Rodgers, who is 16-5 against the Lions. A-Rod has thrown for an NFL-high 36 scores and is the league’s first player with 35-plus touchdowns in five seasons.
The Lions are one game behind an NFC wild-card spot, but their last four games are against Green Bay, Tennessee, Tampa Bay and Minnesota.
TENNESSEE AT JACKSONVILLE
The Titans have won six of the past seven meetings. They are tied with Indianapolis atop the AFC South and hold the tiebreaker with a 3-1 division record.
Tennessee could run all over a weak Jaguars defense with league rushing leader Derrick Henry. Jacksonville has lost 11 straight, the longest single-season skid in franchise history.
ARIZONA AT NEW YORK GIANTS
The first-place Giants — yep, in the NFC East, that’s reality — have taken four in a row, no win more impressive than at Seattle last week. Backup quarterback Colt McCoy played with Daniel Jones (hamstring) sidelined, and
Wayne Gallman rushed for a career-high 135 yards as the running game produced a season-high 190 yards.
Arizona should be helped as Larry Fitzgerald is back after the veteran wideout missed two games on the reserve/ COVID-19 list.
NEW YORK JETS AT SEATTLE
Seattle safety Jamal Adams, who says he won’t get into the hype of this game even though he basically created it, faces his former team for the first time. Adams forced a trade out of New York earlier this year. He was a first-round draft pick in 2017 and a 2019 All-Pro.
Adams leads Seattle with 7½ sacks. With one more he will move past Adrian Wilson for the most by a defensive back in a single season. Wilson had eight sacks in 2005.
For all of the Jets’ weaknesses, they have scored on their opening drive in six straight games, the longest active streak in the NFL and tied for the longest string in franchise history. Still, they could become the first team since the 2017 Browns to be 0-13. Only eight teams since the 1970 merger have started 0-13.
NEW ORLEANS AT PHILADELPHIA
New Orleans has won nine straight since a 1-2 start and has clinched a fourth straight playoff berth, with the NFC South title in reach. The Saints have won their past three games with Taysom Hill starting at quarterback, and he figures to get the call at Philly.
Rookie Jalen Hurts gets that call for the slumping Eagles, who have dropped four in a row with Carson Wentz looking lost.
WASHINGTON VS. SAN FRANCISCO
Washington has built its three-game winning streak on defense; those opponents have combined for a total of six points in the second half. In knocking off previously unbeaten Pittsburgh last Monday, defensive end Montez Sweat tipped three passes, including one that was intercepted to help seal the win.
Quarterback Alex Smith will make his second start against the 49ers, who drafted him first overall in 2005, Sunday in Glendale Ariz. The only teams
Smith hasn’t beaten in his career are the others he played for, San Francisco and Kansas City.
The Niners have committed at least two turnovers in six straight games, the longest active streak in the NFL and the longest for San Francisco since an eight-game string in 2008.
ATLANTA AT L.A. CHARGERS
Atlanta has won all six meetings in the series as a visiting team. While Atlanta is one loss from its third straight losing season, which hasn’t happened since 1999-01, the Falcons are 4-3 under interim coach Raheem Morris, including 2-0 against AFC West teams.
The Chargers come off their worst loss ever, 45-0 to the Patriots.
DENVER AT CAROLINA
The Broncos have lost four of their past five games, with another loss securing a fourth consecutive losing season for the first time since the 1960s and early ‘70s. Denver would become the first Super Bowl champ to miss the playoffs five straight seasons following the title.
Carolina comes off a bye, yet eight players were placed on the COVID-19/ reserve list this week, including wide receivers D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel.