Kovacevic: No reason to believe in Steelers, right?

DENVER -- I don't believe that the Steelers will win.

Except that they just might.

I don't believe that any NFL Divisional Playoff pitting a beaten-up wild card against a wholly healthy No. 1 seed should be anywhere near compelling.

Except that this one, on this Sunday afternoon against the Broncos at Sports Authority Field, could be precisely that and possibly more.

I don't believe that a team missing the NFL's best wide receiver, as well as its best running back and then another running back who'd been nearly as productive, should be able to top 20 points, much less 30, against the NFL's top-ranked defense.

Except that most of these same guys put up 34 against this defense a month ago.



I don't believe that a team missing Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell, DeAngelo Williams and so many others could conceivably run through the tunnel free from any doubt attached to those absences.

Except that I hear Ramon Foster discuss it with all the angst of, say, deciding between a Big Mac or a Quarter Pounder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3J9zpIdt9g

I don't believe that Mike Tomlin can win the big game.

Except when he does.

I don't believe that Ben Roethlisberger can win the big game.

Except when he does.

I don't believe that Roethlisberger will be anywhere close to peak form.

Except that he was routinely heaving balls 40-plus yards in practice Friday and, hey, how much farther does it need to go?

I don't believe that Peyton Manning will be able to throw a football farther than Roethlisberger on this day.

No, really, I don't.

I don't believe that these Steelers, after so many setbacks all season, many of their own making, have any business beating the Patriots next week, never mind even sniffing a Super Bowl.