NFL Playoff Scenarios: Lack of Bye Week Will Keep Steelers from Deep Playoff Run

The last time Ben Roethlisberger saw NFL action, he was hobbling around Candlestick Park in Week 15, unable to move the San Francisco 49ers pass rush. When he did throw, three of his passes found 49ers. The fact that he threw for over 300 yards was irrelevant. He did not belong on the field. 

He's suffering from an ankle injury. Here's the problem: Ankle injuries take a while to heal. This is not a matter of how tough a person is, or how good of an athlete he is, they just take a long time to heal. Even though Roethlisberger is likely to skip two weeks of action before Wild Card Weekend, he will still be banged up when the team takes the field for the first time. 

Every week that goes by that he doesn't have to play increases the chances that he'll be more effective when it is time to play. That's where they need a bye week. For that to happen, the Ravens must lose, and the Steelers must win. 

Without it, the Steelers won't get past the divisional round of the playoffs. Their defense is great, but they won't score the necessary points. 

The Steelers don't run the ball well enough to win in the playoffs without Roethlisberger. Opposing defenses will have no problem playing eight men in the box, keying on the run. 

They can't do that with a healthy Roethlisberger. The Steelers have Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown on the outside to burn any defense that keys on the run. With Roethlisberger throwing the ball, those playmakers will take the Steelers to a win. 

If Charlie Batch is the quarterback throwing the ball, the other team doesn't need to worry as much. If it's a banged up Ben Roethlisberger, they can just follow the 49ers' model and rush him. When Roethlisberger is healthy, he can avoid the rush and find the open man. When he's not, it's an all-out attack.

The Steelers can survive the first round with a banged-up Roethlisberger. The AFC West Champion will not have the kind of team that the 49ers do. 

But going beyond that, it's not looking good. They will either have the Baltimore defense to deal with or will have to outscore New England. If Roethlisberger doesn't get an extra week to heal, that's not going happen.

With him healthy, it will be hard enough. But Pittsburgh has shown in the past that they're up for the challenge. 

But unless they get a bye week, we're going to see a new AFC Champion crowned this year.

Follow @mdixon1985