Dec 5, 2015 4 min read

It’s crazy how fans ride the roller coaster with the Steelers.

When they win, it’s on to the Super Bowl. When they lose, it’s time to start thinking about draft picks and firing the entire coaching staff.

It was the latter last week as the Steelers went to Seattle – only a few people predicted them to win there – and lost 39-30.

It was an ugly game for the defense to be sure. But when you think about it, there were plenty of positives to take from the game.

The Steelers scored 30 points on the road against the NFL’s second-rated defense despite turning the ball over four times. And they did it despite getting just 51 receiving yards out of wide receiver Antonio Brown.

The Seahawks put All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman on Brown every time the latter wasn’t lined up as the slot receiver and he was held – literally at times – to six catches.

But with Brown tied up, Markus Wheaton had a breakout game with nine receptions for 201 yards and a touchdown.

And there’s the rub for opponents trying to defend the Steelers. With Wheaton’s big game, the Steelers are the first team since the 1996 Rams (Isaac Bruce and Eddie Kennison) to have two players with 200-yard receiving games in the same season.

And Martavis Bryant and Heath Miller also have had 100-yard games, and running backs Le’Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams each have had games of at least 70 receiving yards. Both Bell, who is out for the season with a knee injury, and William had 100-yard rushing games.

In other words, the only thing that can stop the Steelers offense is the Steelers not having quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger was no guarantee to play today against the Indianapolis Colts after he left the Seattle game with a concussion. He will, however, play barring an unforeseen setback. When the Steelers hosted the Colts last season, he lit up the Colts for 522 passing yards and six touchdowns in a 51-34 Pittsburgh victory.

Roethlisberger won’t throw for 500 yards or six TDs in this one because it won’t be needed. With 40-year-old Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback instead of Andrew Luck, the Colts are limited on offense.

With Hasselbeck, running back Frank Gore and receiver Andre Johnson, the Colts had a good offense – in 2010. Now, not so much.

Pittsburgh is a 7-point favorite in this game and should put all of the fans back on the Super Bowl bandwagon.

Take the Steelers to win, 37-20

The Redskins are like drawing a straight flush when they’re at home – they’re almost unbeatable.

Take Washington, 27-20

So much for home-field advantage in this game. I’ll go with the better quarterback.

Take the Giants, 23-17

The Saints are marching toward a top-five draft pick. Carolina is marching toward history.

Take Carolina, 31-21

How can the Broncos be giving only four points? Perhaps the oddsmakers smell a letdown.

Take Denver, 27-20

The Eagles seem to have quit on coach Chip Kelly and are starting quarterback Mark Sanchez against the team he famously buttfumbled against.

Take New England, 31-17

This truly is a toss-up. The Vikings aren’t ready for prime time.

Take Seattle, 24-21

The Falcons appear to be this year’s version of the Browns – fast start, horrid finish.

Take Tampa Bay, 27-23

The Chiefs won three of the past four in the series, but the one loss was in Oakland last season.

Take Oakland, 26-23

The Rams don’t have the firepower to match the Cardinals.

Take Arizona, 28-16

John Fox should be talked about as coach of the year for winning with this group of Bears.

Take Chicago, 24-13

If the playoffs began today, the Texans would be in. But they don’t start today.

Take Buffalo, 26-20

The Cleveland Browns, finding new and interesting ways to lose games since 1999.

Take Cincinnati, 31-13

These teams hooked up for a 19-13 snoozefest win by Jacksonville on national TV a couple of weeks ago.

Take Tennessee, 19-13

There has to be a letdown by the Ravens after that Monday night win against Cleveland.

Take Miami, 30-16

Last week: 8-5 ATS; 10-3 Straight up

Overall: 85-73-5 ATS; 105-58 Straight up

F. Dale Lolley can be reached at dlolley@observer-reporter.com.