In a stunning turn of events, the beat-up and battered Green Bay Packers somehow control their own destiny in the NFC Playoff picture.
To keep that destiny alive and set-up a possible de facto week 17 playoff game with the Chicago Bears, the Packers have to get through the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lambeau Field.
Will back-up quarterback Matt Flynn and the Packers have enough in the tank to make a magical run or will the Steelers cause the season to come to a screeching halt? 
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-8) Analysis: The Steelers began the year with a shocking 0-4 start and really failed to get anything positive going. But like most well-run franchises do, they made the best of the hole they dug themselves in and became a better football team. Since being demolished by the New England Patriots 55-31 on November 3rd, the Steelers have competed in each and every game on their way to a 6-4 record over their past 10.
What makes the Steelers so dangerous is the balance and discipline they display on each side of the ball. An aging defense has improved behind strong coaching from coordinator Dick LeBeau. Pittsburgh’s secondary has been particularly strong while holding opponents to 222.4 yards per game (8th in the league). The Steelers will receive a boost on the defensive line with the return of defensive end Brett Keisel.
Pittsburgh’s offense in 2013 has been a showcase for wide receiver Antonio Brown. Brown is just 92 receiving yards -with two games left- from breaking Yancey Thigpen’s franchise record for receiving yards in a season at 1,398. With the departure of Mike Wallace to Miami, Brown has easily filled the role of a number one receiver. The Packers goal will be to take Brown out of the equation and make the Steelers depend on their porous run-game which ranks 31st in the league at 79.4 yards per game.
Green Bay Packers (7-6-1) Analysis: With the fracture of Aaron Rodgers’ collarbone, the Packers season seemed dead in the water. Rodgers has officially been ruled out yet again (seventh straight missed game) and it will be Flynn who takes the reigns to try to make it three straight wins for Green Bay. Over the past two weeks, the Packers have come back from halftime deficits of 11 and 23 points.
As easy as it is to get excited about the Packers surprising playoff possibilities, it can’t be ignored that they’ve looked pretty bad on both sides of the ball. Green Bay’s offense has been a real mystery to be honest. Rookie running back Eddie Lacy leads the NFL in rushing yards since the beginning of October (977 yards) and that’s against defenses keying in on him. However, the team’s abundance of yards and points over the past three weeks have all come in the second half when desperation seems to set in.
Forcing turnovers was the story of Green Bay’s dramatic win at Dallas last week as corners Sam Shields and Tramon Williams both made fantastic interceptions to cap off the improbable comeback. They will need to be at the top of their game once again when savvy veteran Ben Roethlisberger comes to town. Big Ben committed 15 turnovers over his first nine games, but has only two over the last five.
Brutally Honest Prediction: Pittsburgh 27 Green Bay 24
People around Wisconsin are super-optimistic about the Packers, but I haven’t seen enough consistency from them to think they have enough to take down a well-coached Steelers team. Pittsburgh has played some solid football during the second half of the season and Green Bay is still reeling from the loss of Rodgers. The game will be close, but it will be a late touchdown from Big Ben to Brown that will be the difference.
TV Coverage: 3:25 PM CT CBS; Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) and Solomon Wilcots (color analyst).
Betting Lines: Green Bay favored by 2.5 points and over/under at 45 points
2013 Record straight up: 9-4-1
2013 Record against the spread: 9-5
2013 Record in over/under: 9-5
Week 15 Pick Redux: Predicted the Cowboys to win 30-24 over the Packers (actually GB 37 DAL 36); Hit against the spread (+6.5) and over/under (50), but missed straight up.
Do you think the Packers will beat the Steelers or will the playoff dream come to an end? Let me know by commenting below.
Nick Grays is a senior writer at the Sports Bank where he covers the Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers. He also enjoys sharing Fantasy Advice and pretends to be a Golf expert from time-to-time. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here or visit his blog Nick Knows Best. If social media is not your thing, shoot him an email at grays@uwalumni.com.
*Pictures obtained from zimbio and bleacherreport.com