Jan 2, 2016 3 min read

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Really, this isn’t a question of who I like in the Steelers’ game vs. the Browns this week as it is who I like in the New York Jets’ game at Buffalo.

Those two games will take place 100 nautical miles or so away from each other on the shores of Lake Erie and will go a long way toward telling the narrative for the Steelers, Jets and Bills.

The Browns, no so much. Their narrative for 2015 was set several weeks ago.

But there’s plenty on the line for those other three teams.

For the Steelers, it’s a matter of overcoming the injury issues they’ve had to make the playoffs. I picked this team to go 10-6 at the beginning of training camp and with a win today over the Browns, that’s exactly what they will have accomplished.

Given the injuries they’ve played through, that’s nothing to sneeze at.

At the same time, last week’s loss at Baltimore was certainly a disappointing one given the stakes. Heck, even without what was at stake, it was a disappointing loss by this team.

But if they can win and get into the postseason, all will likely be forgiven, especially if they beat the Bengals in the first round.

As for the Jets-Bills game, this is all about Rex Ryan.

While this isn’t the exact same team Ryan coached to a 4-12 record last year, a good portion of the roster is the same.

There’s no way Ryan wants to see the Jets get a 7-game improvement and make the playoffs, especially not when there is something he can do about it.

The Bills, however, are pretty banged up and while they won’t be starting a JV squad against the Jets, it will be a shell of the team that won in New York, 22-17, earlier this season.

That said, the Bills will be motivated. They want to finish 8-8 and knock the Jets out of the playoffs for their coach. Players really do like playing for Ryan.

The Steelers are 11-point favorites to beat the Browns with Austin Davis at quarterback, while the Jets are 3-point favorites to win.

I like the Steelers to bounce back – particularly quarterback Ben Roethlisberger – and beat the Browns relatively handily, 31-17.

But I don’t think it will be enough. I think the Jets avoid the emotional letdown after beating the Patriots last week and sneak past Buffalo and into the playoffs, 24-23.