Steelers Fan Rooting Guide: Who to cheer for in other games in Week 4

Steelers fans know who to root against week in and week out. They usually know to root against Baltimore, Cleveland and New England. But sometimes, you have to look at the bigger picture—the playoff picture. Here are potential teams to put on your foam finger for.

By Bryan Anthony Davis@btscbad Oct 1, 2021, 12:30pm EDT

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Each game that the Steelers take the field for, it’s about winning and not losing. That doesn’t always occur, but with the goal always being the playoffs... the other games become about seeding and matchups. Even though it’s not the Black-and-gold playing and the playoffs seem like a pipe dream, other contests still matter to Steelers Nation and we assume the Steelers will start winning for the sake of this exercise. Here’s a guide to other significant matchups, and whose losses the Steelers would benefit from more.

Here are the current AFC Power Rankings (ESPN)

Buffalo Bills 2-1 (Last Week: 2 - Up 1 spot)
Las Vegas Raiders 3-0 (Last Week: 5 - Up 3 spots)
Cleveland Browns 2-1 (Last Week: 4 - Up 1 spot)
Baltimore Ravens 2-1 (Last Week: 3 - Down 1 spot)
Los Angeles Chargers 2-1 (Last Week: 9 - Up 4 spots)
Kansas City Chiefs 1-2 (Last Week: 1 - Down 5 spots)
Denver Broncos 3-0 (Last Week: 7 - No change)
Tennessee Titans 2-1 (Last Week: 8 - No change)
Cincinnati Bengals 2-1 (Last Week: 13 - Up 4 spots)
New England Patriots 1-2 (Last Week: 10 - No change)
Pittsburgh Steelers 1-2 (Last Week: 6 - Down 5 spots)
Miami Dolphins 1-2 (Last Week: 11 - Down 1 spot)
Indianapolis Colts 0-3 (Last Week: 12 - Down 1 spot)
Houston Texans 1-2 (Last Week: 14 - No change)
Jacksonville Jaguars 0-3 (Last Week: 15 - No change)
New York Jets: 0-3 (Last Week: 16 - No change)

WEEK 4

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-1) - Thursday 8:20 PM (NFLN)

Sure, this game was already played on Thursday evening. Because of the truth that Cincy is in the AFC North with the Steelers and due to the fact that they are the Bengals, black and gold fans will root against their idiotically, tiger-striped foes. But the RG was not adhered to as Joe Burrow led his team to the winning score on the final drive of Thursday Night Football.

Who to root for: Jacksonville Jaguars

Houston Texans (1-2) at Buffalo Bills (2-1) - Sunday 1 PM (CBS)

Despite the gaffe against the Steelers on the first Sunday of the season, Josh Allen and the Bills have put it together and are starting to look like a Super Bowl contender. We can’t have that. The Steelers are only one game behind, but they own the tiebreaker. Should the Men of Steel start winning, they are going to need some sad faces coming from Bills Mafia.

Who to root for: Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts (0-3) at Miami Dolphins (1-2) - Sunday 1 PM (CBS)

These are two teams that, like the Steelers, that should not have records this poor in the early going. This is kind of a tossup, so it’s probably best to root for the team that has not won as of yet. Plus, I’m kind of mad at the Dolphins for blowing last week’s come back against the Raiders.

Who to root for: Indianapolis Colts

Cleveland Browns (2-1) at Minnesota Vikings (1-2)- Sunday 1 PM (CBS)

You all know the rules, when it’s brown flush it down. I don’t hear the water in the toilet running. The Browns look like they are becoming the team that the rest of the NFL didn’t believe they could be. The hype machine is going full force for the mistakes by the lake. Minnesota is inconsistent and mind boggling. But if they can put together a full four quarters at home, they could take advantage of the home field and win.

Who to root for: Minnesota Vikings

Tennessee Titans (2-1) at New York Jets (0-3) - Sunday 1 PM (CBS)

If the Steelers are ever going to get back into a contention, they have to remember the Titans. Maybe the former Titans can help defeat the current version. Yes, the New York Jets were known as the New York Titans from 1960-1963. The only thing titanic about this team right now is that they keep sinking deeper and deeper into an abyss of nothingness. Will they help the Steelers cause by beating Tennessee? Probably not. But the routing guide encourages us all to keep the faith.

Who to root for: New York Jets

Kansas City Chiefs (1-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (1-2) - Sunday 1 PM (CBS)

Again, the Chiefs keep ticking me off. They always go against the tenets and bylaws of the Rooting Guide and win when the Steelers need them to lose and blow it when Black and Gold Nation need them to triumph. At 1-2, it would be nice to see Kansas City go even deeper in the hole.

Who to root for: Philadelphia Eagles

Baltimore Ravens (2-1) at Denver Broncos (3-0) - Sunday 4:25 PM (CBS)

The Broncos are 3-0, but their opponents are a combined 0-9. The Ravens won the last two weeks in dramatic and epic fashion reminiscent of a Hollywood movie ending. Steeler Nation can’t have that. Let’s hope that this week Denver continues the possible masquerade and beats Baltimore at home.

Who to root for: Denver Broncos

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) at New England Patriots (1-2) - Sunday 8:20 PM (NBC)

This is a conundrum for the Rooting Guide and Steeler Nation. When the Patriots play, it’s second nature to boo vociferously for them and cheer against them. But the same could be said about Tom Brady. What to do? It’s simple. I’d rather see the Belichickeans falter in as many games as possible.

Who to root for: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Las Vegas Raiders (3-0) at Los Angeles Chargers (2-1) - Monday 8:15 PM (ESPN)

Personally, I really like Los Angeles’ AFC representative. Also, I’m finding myself abhorring the tomato-head of Jon Gruden and his Las Vegas Raiders. Will somebody please vehemently pummel Derek Carr and beat this sorry excuse for a 3-0 squad.

Who to root for: Los Angeles Chargers

Who do you like in these games for yinzer’s sake? Let us know in the comment section in this article or on BTSC social media. If you want more explanation to these picks check out the new Rooting Guide podcast below: