Rockindeano wrote:YoungJRNY wrote:What their saying in Cincy:Another thing that could come into play is the fact that the Bengals and Jets could see each other two straight weeks. A Jets win would give them the fifth seed, meaning New York (8-7) would be making a trip here for a first-round game either Jan. 9 or 10.
"All those things, we're going to take all those things into consideration there," Lewis said.
The players say they will approach things in the same manner as the coaches if it means playing one half or the entire game.
"We're still trying to improve as a team and keep taking steps forward," safety Chris Crocker said. "You play to win first and foremost. We'll prepare as if each starter will play the whole game and then determine things as the game goes along."
Said defensive tackle Domata Peko, who has missed the last four games: "Whatever they feel like they want me to do. I've been gone 3-4 weeks and want to get back out there playing and get some snaps. If they want me to play a little bit or the whole game I want to get out there and hit someone."
As for the fact the Bengals will be in prime time for the first time this season, Lewis doesn't see the situation much different from how they have approached things the last three weeks and that the pressure is more on the Jets, who need to win to get into the postseason.
"They've got more on their shoulders than we do," Lewis said. "I think they have the pressure of having to win the football game to get into the playoffs, and so forth. I think our guys will be fine with it, I told them since the time we went to Minnesota it's like it's going to be the rest of the season and it's played out like that."
I'm calling it, Bungles beat Jets. Pats beat Texans. Going to be up to the Steelers to beat Miami.
Love it. Houston will beat NE and no playoffs for the Steelers.
I'm FAR more comfortable with the Patriots playing the first game. They win, they're in the higher seed. I believe Bellichick won't fold and go into the playoffs on a losing streak. It's just the way the Pats do things although Houston does indeed scare me and should scare anyone. Also, don't sleep on Oakland beating Baltimore. It's IN Oakland and Oakland played spoiler more times than one this season. It's going to be an interesting Week 17. I love the quote from Tomlin on NFL.COM
The Steelers defeated the Chargers (12-3), Vikings (11-4), Broncos (8-7) and Ravens (8-7) but lost to the Chiefs (3-12), Browns (4-11), Raiders (5-10) and Bears (6-9).
"This our bed. We're going to lay in it," Tomlin said. "We created this situation. What we are going to do is control what we can control, and that's our preparation of play for the game. We're not going to cry over spilled milk. If there's any level of disappointment in terms of how this thing unfolds, it's going to be on us.