Ben Roethlisberger

Steelers' DeCastro: 'Sick feeling' to lose control of playoffs

Published Dec. 31, 2015 11:54 a.m. ET

foxsports

By David Kenyon

The Pittsburgh Steelers controlled their route to the playoffs heading into Week 16, but a shocking loss has given the team a different — and not as healthy — mindset.

According to Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, right guard David DeCastro compared the 2015 club to the 2013 squad, which reached the postseason despite needing a few specific results.

“It’s a little different than two years ago. We were trying to climb up, trying to make it. This year is a little different. It’s a sick feeling because you thought you had that control.”

Though Pittsburgh was locked in a three-way tie with the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets at 9-5, the Steelers held the tiebreaker over New York if both teams were to finish with the same record.

However, the Baltimore Ravens potentially spoiled Pittsburgh’s playoff aspirations while the Jets knocked off the New England Patriots. Consequently, the Steelers must defeat the Cleveland Browns and hope New York — one of the NFL’s hottest teams — stumble against the Buffalo Bills.

It’s a somewhat-similar situation to 2013 when Ben Roethlisberger and Co. needed losses from the Ravens, Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers. Baltimore and Miami fell, but San Diego did not.

Pittsburgh came up one game short of the postseason that year, and if Week 17 goes as expected, the same will hold true in 2015, too.

Only this time, the Steelers might hurt a little more. They once had control of a playoff appearance but allowed an injury-depleted rival to potentially end a wild season that finally looked promising.

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