This is not, understandably, the game Steelers fans wanted to see in Week 18.
But it's still the game they should have been longing to see all season.
A playoff-type game with a playoff-type atmosphere and playoff-type stakes against a playoff-caliber opponent.
Isn't that what everyone has been envisioning since Latrobe?
The cherry on top of this postseason-like sundae is it's against Baltimore.
Not that such a perfect storm of anticipation, exhilaration and payback potential comes without a cost.
It doesn't.
Had they won last Sunday in Cleveland, the Steelers would already be AFC North Division champions and in a position to rest the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Cam Heyward and anyone else they felt compelled to sit in what would have been a meaningless regular-season finale.
But they didn't.
Get over it.
At least the Steelers won't have to worry about the rest-vs.-rust conundrum if and when they get there.
In the meantime, we get Steelers-Ravens with nothing less than the season hanging in the balance for both.
Make no mistake, this is a playoff game.
It won't be officially recorded as such but the winner goes on and the loser goes home.
And that's the way the Steelers, and, presumably, the Ravens, are approaching it.
Is there a better brand of football than that?
Did you not think a similar set of circumstances was going to have to be dealt with eventually?
Were you not hoping to see multiple such battles throughout January and into February?
Why not cut to the chase?
The Steelers, according to Rodgers and others, have been approaching their games with a playoff-like mindset ever since they slipped to 6-6 after bottoming out against the Bills.
The difference this time is they've lost their last game after which they'll be afforded an opportunity to bounce back.
So be it.
The defense gave up 249 rushing yards on Nov. 30 against Buffalo and 217 the following week in Baltimore.
But the Steelers beat the Ravens, 27-22, back on Dec. 7, anyway.
And since then they've allowed 63, 15, and 78 yards in three games on the ground.
Derrick Henry, meet Derrick Harmon. And tee it up, already.
It won't be easy and, of course, there are no guarantees.
But that's the compelling part of playoff football, isn't it?
Isn't this type of game on this type of stage what you've been imagining since the Steelers signed Rodgers?
The result in Cleveland was as surprising as it was disappointing, but if they beat Baltimore no one will even remember that game.
We're about to find out if they're good enough.
Hasn't that been the question all along?
Another negative associated with Steelers-Ravens for all the AFC North marbles is this time we really do have to wait all day for Sunday night.
But it's gonna get here, eventually.
And it's gonna be majestic.
