PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberger knows his team probably isn’t supposed to be here, the No. 7 seed in the playoffs preparing to face the No. 2 seed Kansas City Chiefs. And yet, the 39-year-old knows from experience that wild things can happen once a team gets into the postseason — no matter how it happens.
“I would assume, as a group, you understand that we probably aren’t supposed to be here. We probably are not a very good football team. Out of 14 teams I think are in, we’re probably number 14,” he said. “… We’re probably 20-point underdogs, and we’re going to the No. 1 seed, the No. 1 team. I know they’re not the No. 1 seed, obviously, but they’re the No. 1 team that has won the AFC the last two years, arguably the best team in football.
“We don’t have a chance. So, let’s just go in and play and have fun.”
The Steelers are actually 12.5-point underdogs to the Chiefs, who have played in the Super Bowl the past two seasons. The Chiefs clinched the AFC West and ensured their playoff berth three weeks ago when they beat the Steelers 36-10 in Week 16.
But for the Steelers to reach this matchup, they had to beat the Baltimore Ravens in the season finale and needed the Jacksonville Jaguars to upset the Indianapolis Colts and the Los Angeles Chargers-Las Vegas Raiders game to not end in a tie.
Late Sunday night into early Monday morning, the Steelers’ playoff hopes were on life support as the Raiders and Chargers went to overtime and were within seconds of ending in a tie. But as time expired, Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson finally pushed the Steelers to the playoffs with a game-winning field goal.
Roethlisberger watched at home, taking in the game on FaceTime with two friends, Christian music artists Bart Millard of MercyMe and TobyMac. During the Raiders’ last drive in overtime, Roethlisberger donned a too-small Raiders helmet signed by former punter Shane Lechler and former kicker Sebastian Janikowski.
I promise you, Sunday night was the only time you will…
Source : espn
