Stephen

Jacksonville entered 2018 with high expectations after a solid playoff run that ended against the eventual AFC Super Bowl representatives from New England.

When the team avenged that loss and found themselves sitting at 2-0, games like this against the perennial playoff contenders like the Steelers looked like they could be classic battles.

Unfortunately, Blake Bortles turned back into a pumpkin and the rest of the Jaguars team scurried away amid six losses and a resounding thud as Jacksonville landed in the last place.

The return of injured Leonard Fournette offered some hope in Week 10. In fact, it looked like the Jaguars could pull out a victory until a late turnover snuffed out what could have been a game-winning drive against the Indianapolis Colts.

Instead, it is the Colts who will play for a chance to return to .500 and a mention in playoff conversations, while the Jaguars try to survive a date with the rolling Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pittsburgh comes in with a little extra rest and an understandable amount of swagger. Their 52-21 demolition of a strong Panthers team in front of a national audience last Thursday erased the last notion of any letdown in their skills or competitiveness. Memories of their 1-2-1 start have faded to oblivion.

The official end of the Le’Veon Bell saga should relax any lingering tension in the locker room and assure James Conner an uninterrupted path to a Pro Bowl appearance unless the Steelers make it to the Super Bowl, a very possible scenario at this point.

Injuries and notes

Pittsburgh reported no significant injuries and expect their full roster to suit up against the Jaguars.

Le’Veon Bell did not report or sign his contract tender, ending any chance of him returning to the team in 2018.

Jacksonville suffered a huge loss when center Brandon Linder went out with a knee injury. Linder will miss the rest of the season.

Cornerbacks AJ Bouye and Quinton Meeks are listed as questionable.

Coaching matchup

Doug Marrone is finding his second season at the helm to be considerably more difficult than last year’s playoff campaign.

Injuries to Leonard Fournette and several other players will get him off the hook for some of the teams’ performance, but better play from his quarterback would help, too.

Mike Tomlin continues to shine in Pittsburgh. Another Super Bowl run would be great, but he should already be included in any conversation about the greatest coaches in Steelers history.

How to watch the Jaguars-Steelers game

CBS Sports will produce and broadcast this contest across much of the country. That means DirecTV Now will send the game to your favorite internet connected device in real time if you are one of the smart American NFL fans who subscribe to the leading internet television provider.

DirecTV Now is a division of the big satellite company, but unlike its big brother, DirecTV Now does not require any burdensome equipment or make you sign a ridiculous contract.

DirecTV Now, like Fubo TV and Sling, provide live stream NFL action from all the NFL-contracted networks, as well as dozens of other movie and entertainment channels as part of their low-cost monthly subscription packages.

Take advantage of a trial offer from DirecTV Now, Sling, or Fubo TV to watch the Jaguars-Steelers game for free. After the game, flip through the channels to see what else these great internet TV providers offer.

You’ll understand why so many fellow Americans have cut the cord with cable and satellite companies to join the internet TV revolution.

Read More: NFL Week 14 Game Preview: Steelers at Raiders

Who will win the Jaguars-Steeler game?

Jacksonville’s heartbreaking loss to the Indianapolis Colts will be tough to get over. The loss of center Brandon Linder will be even tougher. Unless Bortles can turn his game around, it won’t matter if Fournette is healthy or not.

Pittsburgh is a team on a mission, led by a quarterback on a mission, and aided by a running back on a mission. There is a chance the offense will let down now that they know Bell isn’t loitering in the wings.

But I doubt it.

Oakland managed to keep things interesting last week against the Kansas City Chiefs before Coach Jon Gruden found another innovative way to make people question his ten-year contract.

Pittsburgh kept things a little too interesting, ultimately allowing the Chargers to complete a comeback bid and steal a victory from the AFC North leaders.

Ben Roethlisberger rarely loses in primetime games, but the Chargers took advantage of three consecutive offside penalties and might have finally broken their legacy of cursed kicking games when Mike Badgely connected on his third attempt, his second untimed play.

Suddenly, the Steelers are only a half-game ahead of the Ravens. Each has two games against playoff teams and two against lesser teams. 9-7 (or 8-6-1) could get them into the playoffs, but the home field could decide if either team will play in the second round.

Oakland is keeping pace with the San Francisco 49ers for the first overall pick, but they almost blew it with an upset of the Chiefs.  There is no way of knowing whether it cost them the game, but Gruden’s decision to throw a challenge flag when he didn’t have any challenges left cost the Raiders an important timeout.

Injuries and notes

Running back James Conner suffered a deep bruise to his lower leg that will force him to sit out this week.

Pittsburgh receiver and return man Ryan Switzer has to get through the concussion protocol if he wants to play.

Oakland signed running back CJ Anderson who couldn’t find carries in Carolina despite coming off a 1,000-yard season. Anderson has a history of big, late-season games, but probably won’t impact this week’s contest. More importantly, he doesn’t fumble, which all three Oakland rushers managed to do in last week’s contest.

Coaching matchup

Mike Tomlin was tight-lipped after last week’s collapse, but you know he is harping on penalties this week. He’ll figure it out. It is speculated that the Steelers’ offside penalties were the result of a decision to be more aggressive after the officials missed a blatant false start on the Chargers. It was felt the officials might have been hesitant to call offside as indicated by several close calls during the game. If so, that’s some nice coaching, although it burned them in the end.

Gruden’s ill-advised challenge flag prevented the team from using a timeout late in the game. He offered no comment as to why he threw the flag, although fans speculate he didn’t know the rule and may have hoped to slow down the game a bit without using that timeout. It ended up outshining the three fumbles in the running game.

How to watch the Raiders-Steelers game

CBS Sports will show this game to fans in the teams’ local markets, which means folks in Western Pennsylvania and Northern California can catch the action on their computers or smartphones with a subscription to Fubo TV.

Fubo TV lets you watch tons of live stream NFL action, as well as all your favorite movie and entertainment channels, from an internet connected TV or practically any other internet device.

Better yet, they give you all that for a fraction of what it cost for cable or satellite, with no expensive equipment or silly contracts.

Fubo TV, like Sling TV and DirecTV Now, let you try their service for free! That’s why there’s no excuse not to take a look at what Fubo, Sling, or DirecTV Now offer in your neighborhood.

Read More: NFL Week 17 Game Preview: Bengals at Steelers

Who will win the Raiders-Steelers game?

Pittsburgh comes off two tough losses, while the Raiders come off a near-miss loss. With the Patriots and Saints lined up for the next two weeks, it’s easy to think a traveling Roethlisberger could fall prey to a trap game, especially without their leading rusher.

But Mike Tomlin is too good a coach to let that happen, and Gruden has a ten-year guaranteed contract.