QB Switch Could Change Steelers Playoff Hopes

The Tennessee Titans are starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday after rookie Will Levis suffered a foot injury, ending his season. Tannehill will attempt to lead the Titans to an upset over the Jaguars, who also do not know who will start at quarterback. That game will be huge for the Steelers playoff hopes.

The Steelers will make the playoffs with a win against the Baltimore Ravens and a Jaguars loss to the Titans.

The Steelers can also advance with a win and a Buffalo Bills loss to the Miami Dolphins, and both of those teams will have plenty to play for. The winner of the Bills and Dolphins game will claim the AFC East title and home-field advantage in the first two rounds of the playoffs. The loser faces a first-round road trip to Kansas City — talk about a big swing in their Super Bowl fortune.

Head coach Mike Vrabel, who lamented how much it sucks to lose in the NFL.

He wants to play spoiler to not only the Jaguars’ playoff hopes, but their division title hopes, too.

“It fucking sucks — losing. Awful. That’s why I want to win,” Vrabel said. “Because you don’t sleep. You want to win for the players that bust their tail — that’s it. I mean, it’s not about, ‘Hey, we’ll go into the offseason with a good note.’ Nobody knows what you did on January 7, or 8, or 6 in April when you come back [for the offseason program.] But, you want to see it all come together. Just put four quarters together, win a game like we talked about.”

The Steelers playoff could ride on that game. Tannehill and the Titans have lost three straight to Jacksonville but previously had won eight of nine, meaning that the history of this game is seesawing. Pittsburgh needs a Jacksonville to keep scenarios alive where they could make it in the event of a loss, too.