Steelers have sights set on playoffs

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Larry Foote has no illusions about the Pittsburgh Steelers catching the Baltimore Ravens to win the AFC North even after Sunday’s emotionally charged 23-20 victory over their bitter rivals.

 

He doesn’t exactly care either.

 

Sure, homefield in the playoffs — if the Steelers manage to make it — would be nice. But the 32-year-old doesn’t believe it’s necessary for Pittsburgh to get where it wants to go.

 

“We’ve just got to get a ticket,” Foote said. “The last few years, the Giants have done it, and Green Bay has done it.”

 

Heck, so have the Steelers (7-5), who revived their season in a dramatic fourth quarter in which they scored 10 points to snap Baltimore’s 15-game home winning streak.

 

Pittsburgh won three road playoff games on its way to the 2006 Super Bowl, a route it would like have to travel again if the Ravens can maintain their two-game lead over the Steelers and Bengals with a month to go in the season.

 

It’s a cushion Foote doesn’t see evaporating. 

 

“I’m sure they’re probably going to win the division,” Foote said. “I can’t see them losing two more games.”

 

If Foote and the rest of his fellow 30-somethings can continue to muster the toughness they showed while rallying past the Ravens, they might not lose two more games between now and next season, either.

 

In one of the toughest places in the NFL to play — let alone win —  backup quarterback Charlie Batch passed for 276 yards, directed two late scoring drives and played like someone ready to turn 28, not 38.