PITTSBURGH Steelers looking to get momentum for playoff season

With a win Sunday, Pittsburgh will own a four-game winning streak.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers went into last season's playoffs with a rookie quarterback who hadn't lost an NFL game and a 14-game winning streak. Even that combination couldn't get them to the Super Bowl.
If the Steelers (10-5) beat the Detroit Lions (5-10) on Sunday, they'll go into this season's playoffs with only a four-game winning streak but, perhaps, with something better than a year ago -- the momentum gained from playing well late in a season.
They also have a second-year quarterback who has experienced losing and, because of that, might have a better idea what it takes to win in the postseason.
Maybe it's been overlooked during the Indianapolis Colts' twin losses following their 13-game winning streak and the New England Patriots' recent surge, but the Steelers are making a late-season push.
Responded to slump
Since losing three in a row, they've responded by outscoring the Bears, Vikings and Browns by a combined 80-12 in three consecutive victories.
Unlike the end of last season, when the offense wasn't doing much and the defense was carrying them, the Steelers are playing their best football of the season.
The defense has allowed only one touchdown since a 38-31 loss to Cincinnati on Dec. 4, and Ben Roethlisberger hasn't thrown an interception since that game while running an offense that is averaging 37 rushing attempts per game this month.
"Our defense is all over the place, and it's so much fun watching them play," Roethlisberger said. "Offensively, we haven't played mistake-free football but we've been playing well and we're going to have to keep doing that if we want to go to where we want to go."
Trying for a first
That, of course, is the Super Bowl, which has never been reached by a No. 6-seeded team, which the Steelers would be, or even a No. 5-seeded team.
To get there, the Steelers probably must beat the Lions -- though they would also make the playoffs with a victory by either the Chargers or Bengals -- then win three in a row in January.
On the road.
All against higher-seeded teams.
"The one thing is that, on the road, we've been really, really good the last couple of years," running back Jerome Bettis said, a reference to their 13-3 road record the last two seasons. "It's something we can take as a positive."
Linebacker Joey Porter also likes how the Steelers responded after that Cincinnati effectively cost them the AFC North title. That loss put them in a playoff-like mode, one that Roethlisberger hopes they maintain Sunday even if the game turns out to be meaningless to Pittsburgh.
The Steelers will make the playoffs if the Chargers beat the Broncos today, but Roethlisberger would prefer not to be held out Sunday if that happens. Last season, he didn't play against Buffalo to end the regular season because the Steelers had secured home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs.
"I'd like to go out and play," Roethlisberger said. "You don't want to sit there and be rusty for the next week. I'd like to get out there and get some snaps for however long that coach thinks is necessary."
Big Ben is key
Coach Bill Cowher suggested this week the Steelers will go as far as Roethlisberger takes them. Roethlisberger is 36-of-55 for 548 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions the last three weeks.
"We know that if we lose another game it's our last game of the year," Roethlisberger said. "We don't want that to end any time soon. We know that we're the underdogs and we probably like that role a little more."