There’s something to be said about leaving food on the table — especially when your fanbase has been starving. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, Week 17 against the Cleveland Browns wasn’t just another loss. It was a missed opportunity that felt heavier than the final score, heavier than the standings, and heavier than the excuses that followed.
Steelers fans have heard the promises all season. They’ve endured the inconsistency, the injuries, the uneven offense, and the weekly reminders that 'the standard is the standard.' But with a chance to clinch a postseason berth outright, Pittsburgh simply had to beat a division rival.