Steelers 35, Lions 21

Got ‘r done.

The Steelers secured the final spot in the AFC playoffs by beating a surprisingly tenacious Detroit Lions team. Many people – starting with yours-truly – expected the Lions to roll over and play dead: they have nothing to gain, most of the principles will still be there next year, and they flat-out stink. That said, they are still professional football players, and on any given Sunday – you know the cliché.

The Lions came to play, but in the end there is still a reason why they finish the season with a 5-11 record – they’re just not that good, and the Steelers did what was necessary to secure the win.

That won’t be enough next week.

Next week the Steelers visit Paul Brown Stadium, home of the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers won there this year – while the Bengals won in Heinz Field – so the home-field advantage should mean little next week for the Bengals. The Steelers will need to put much more pressure on Carson Palmer than they put on Joey Harrington today – Joey threw three touchdown passes against the Steelers secondary.

Joey Harrington.

Carson Palmer, whose play is improving daily, will eat the Steelers for lunch if they play that sloppily next week. Palmer threw for three touchdowns in their win at Heinz Field so Coach Perry and Dick LeBeau will have their work cut out for them this week, but the Steelers are still playing, following that Black and Gold brick road to Detroit and Super Bowl XL.