This Sunday's showdown against the Browns was already circled on the calendar. The Steelers are looking for revenge after being unceremoniously dismissed from the playoffs last season.
The image of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in tears sitting on the bench next to his long-time (now retired) center Maurkice Pouncey is burned in the brains of Steelers fans.
But in addition of wanting revenge, the Steelers season could hinge on Sunday's game in Cleveland.
If the Steelers win, they're right back in the hunt in the AFC North, but as Pro Football Focus' Brad Spielberger points out every other team in the division will have five wins with the Steelers at 3-4.
"If I'm the Pittsburgh Steelers and I lose this game and go 3 and 4 and I have the Bengals, Ravens and Browns all ahead of me by multiple games, I'm selling at the deadline," said Spielberger. "I know it sounds dramatic, it sounds drastic and to give up on the entire season after just going 3 and 4 and kind of still being right in the mix with some quality wins over good AFC teams, I know it sounds silly but frankly I think at that point it would be the mature and smart decision."
Spielberger adds that it doesn't mean he thinks the Steelers will try to tank, but rather they don't make any trades to try to make their team better before the deadline or sign any veterans that become available.
Players like linebacker Melvin Ingram and cornerback Joe Haden have been mentioned in trade rumors recently.
Essentially if the Steelers win, they won't be trading them, if they lose, it could be more likely.
Of course a loss doesn't mean the Steelers are out of it entirely and with games against Chicago and Detroit coming up, Pittsburgh could get right back to over .500 after that, but the final stretch of the schedule won't be easy.
