It’s ridiculous to think that a Steelers team sitting on a 9-3 record with a division lead heading into the second week of December would be facing a must win game against the last place Browns. After all, the Steelers proved to us all back in 2005 what must win games really were as they rattled off four straight victories to earn the final seed in the AFC.

The maths of it all then firmly state that this is in no shape or form a must win. Those are cold, hard facts. About that, though…this is not a game played on facts alone. No, this is a game played on emotions, momentum, and a big dose of old fashion belief built on past performances. One big play can swing the mental state of a team such that they rise up and defeat a vastly superior opponent or lose to an inferior one. Wins breed more wins, losses can spawn a streak of disappointing results.

The Thursday night loss to the Browns was a certified bummer. No one, not the fans or the team, felt good about that all week. Beating the Bengals breathed new life into the organization, and restored the sense of belief that this team was different. In a game of emotions, belief is the critical component that has been missing in years past.

One look at the upcoming schedule confirms the importance of this game. At Philly, at Baltimore, then the insanely short week on Christmas Day at home against KC, followed by a potential flex game hosting the ever dangerous Bengals once more. All four of those games could easily become losses, so right now this 9-3 record could disintegrate into the dreaded one win over .500 and destroy all the feel-goods Steeler Nation currently enjoys. A win this week pushes the win column to double digits, which as far as facts go, means little. Speaking for emotions, however, it sends a message that this is not the break even team heading for a wildcard blowout loss…again.

How do the Steelers set themselves up for an emotional win to carry them onwards toward their destiny? For starters, they need to have a plan to deal with Myles Garrett in the first half, and not decide to pay attention to him after he has wrecked the first thirty minutes of football. The offense needs to come out fast to keep the emotions of the crowd loud and proud, and not give the Browns any signs of life. That means giving anyone assigned to block Garrett help as much as possible.

Speaking of emotions, it’s critical that Mike Tomlin is working every bit of coaching know-how he has in his head to get George Pickens out of his own. Every Pickens reception as of late is like a Christmas bonus check. At first, you are all excited when you hear how much it is, but then you do the math on how hard a bonus check is taxed to calculate how much of it you are actually getting to deposit. Right now, every time I see Pickens catch a moon ball on a go route, I’ve already deducted the 15 yard penalty he’s inevitably getting from whatever stupid action he is taking once the play is over. His emotions can kill drives and scoring opportunities. In a not-a-must-win-but-kind of-a-must-win game, that needs to end, and it needs to end fast.

Jameis Winston is a character, and he is capable of throwing beautiful touchdown passes to both his team, and the one he is playing against. A pick-six is the ultimate emotional swing play in a game, and turnovers will be crucial in the quest of ten wins. Those start with QB pressure, which was sorely lacking the last time these teams played. It’s time to release the hounds to hunt the dogs.

Playing Renegade is a great example of how emotions can swing a game. There’s nothing worse that giving up a big play right after that song is played and the stadium is shaking with energy. A loss here at home against the Browns would feel much like that…a big crash after a wonderful high. The facts are the facts. A loss this week would not ruin the season, or the hard work invested in it. Emotionally, it would be a hammer blow to the collective, and it could spiral if the traditional struggles against the Eagles continue. Forget “just the facts, Ma’am.” Fire up Renegade and go get emotional all over their you-know-what. Give us all something to believe in for one more week.