Even if Titans’ game is delayed, Sunday could still be impactful for Steelers
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Even if their game against the Tennessee Titans is rescheduled because of coronavirus concerns, there are lots of key AFC games Sunday with direct implications for the Steelers.
With or without the local team in action, it’s going to be an NFL-viewing buffet.
If they do move the Steelers’ 1 p.m. kickoff in Nashville, each of the other three teams in the AFC North still are in action at that time.
The Baltimore Ravens visit Washington. The Cleveland Browns are in Dallas. And the Cincinnati Bengals welcome the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Also of interest, the Indianapolis Colts (2-1) — who may be in the mix for the AFC South or a wild card this year — travel to Chicago to take on the 3-0 Bears. I think both of these teams will wind up being average at best. But one of them is going to finish up the first quarter of the season extremely happy.
There are two significant AFC games at 4:25 p.m. The reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (3-0) play the New England Patriots (2-1). Just because quarterback Tom Brady isn’t with the Patriots anymore, that doesn’t mean the luster is off this game. Actually, I’m even more intrigued because I want to see how the Cam Newton-led Patriots continue to perform against top-notch competition.
So far, so good. They just handed the Las Vegas Raiders (2-1) their first loss on Sunday, 36-20. And they hung with 3-0 Seattle until the last play in Week 2.
I’ll be watching that one. I just wish it wasn’t on simultaneously against the Raiders-Buffalo Bills game. I’d like another look at how real Vegas is (or isn’t) after upsetting New Orleans and losing to the Pats last week.
Plus, the Bills are exciting. Their games have been close lately. They’ve been surprisingly high scoring, as Buffalo is averaging an AFC-best 31 points per game. And once-scrutinized quarterback Josh Allen suddenly looks like a candidate for MVP.
If the Bills win that game, that may entrench them as the third-best team in the AFC, right behind the Chiefs and Ravens. Yes, even higher than the Steelers-Titans winner. I’d put whoever wins that game fourth and whoever loses it fifth.
Probably. Let’s watch them all and see how it goes. Check back with me next week
I prefer the Steelers-Titans game stay at 1 p.m. because if it gets moved to Monday, it’ll likely be up against — or overlap with — the Green Bay Packers-Atlanta Falcons game.
And I can’t wait to see how big of a lead the Falcons get in this one before they blow it. Hey, they were up 20 against Dallas. They had a 16-point fourth-quarter lead against the Bears. They could be up 28-3 against Aaron Rogers, and he still may lead a Green Bay comeback.
Well, 28-3? That might be an exaggeration. I mean, how could any team blow a lead like tha …
28-3.
The GREATEST comeback in Super Bowl history.@AtlantaFalcons vs @Patriots was a classic. pic.twitter.com/SLwrPPsCNJ
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) January 27, 2020
Oh. Right.
So if the Steelers game is canceled, delayed or postponed, don’t make that extra trip to Home Depot. Or even Bed Bath & Beyond.
There’s still plenty of football that will take place on Sunday. And almost all of it will directly impact the Steelers’ playoff path.