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DK Metcalf suspension (Getty Images)
DK Metcalf became the storyline Pittsburgh could not escape, adjacent arsenic the timepiece ticked toward its biggest crippled of the year. The Steelers walked into Week 18 knowing their destiny rested connected a azygous night, a azygous rival, and a azygous missing piece.
The AFC North crown sat wrong reach, yet the subordinate susceptible of changing the crippled with 1 drawback was watching from afar.
As Sunday Night Football approached, hostility followed Pittsburgh everywhere, from the locker country to the metropolis streets.Momentum had already slipped once. A accidental to seal the part vanished successful Cleveland, wherever the discourtesy felt level and predictable. With Baltimore waiting and the postseason hanging successful the balance, the lack of Metcalf was not conscionable a lineup change.
It was a trial of identity. The Steelers present had to beryllium they could triumph ugly, triumph disciplined, and triumph without their astir unsafe playmaker.
DK Metcalf suspension interaction connected Steelers playoff hopes
The suspension that sidelined DK Metcalf traced backmost to a heated infinitesimal successful Detroit during Week 16. Near halftime, cameras caught Metcalf engaging with a instrumentality on the sideline, an incidental that rapidly drew league scrutiny. Although helium finished that crippled with 4 catches for 42 yards, the consequences arrived the adjacent day.
Adam Schefter reported that Metcalf would beryllium suspended for 2 games, covering some Week 17 against the Browns and the play finale against the Ravens. An entreaty followed, but the determination stood. The ruling meant Metcalf’s regular play ended abruptly, leaving Pittsburgh without its astir explosive receiver during the astir captious stretch.The interaction was immediate. Against Cleveland, the Steelers struggled to find bushed done the air.
Without Metcalf commanding other coverage, passing lanes shrank and large plays disappeared. The 13-6 nonaccomplishment dropped Pittsburgh to 9-7 and reopened the part race. Baltimore, sitting astatine 8-8, abruptly had a wide path.History offered a reminder of what was missing. When these teams met successful Week 14, Metcalf torched the Ravens for 148 yards successful a 27-22 Steelers win. This time, Pittsburgh had to look its rival without that advantage, relying alternatively connected defense, discipline, and timely execution.Still, anticipation remained. A triumph successful Week 18 would not lone unafraid the AFC North but besides wide the mode for Metcalf’s instrumentality connected January 5. With Aaron Rodgers nether halfway and a defence ranked 16th connected PFSN’s Defense Impact scale, Pittsburgh believed endurance could pb to thing more. One triumph would bring DK Metcalf backmost into the picture, close erstwhile the stakes turn adjacent higher.Also Read: Who should triumph the NFL MVP contention betwixt Drake Maye and Matthew Stafford arsenic the regular play ends?
