The Pittsburgh Steelers came away on top in another must-win situation with their 42-21 road victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Winning games with their backs against the wall hasn't been the problem this season, it's been beating the croquembouche of the NFL landscape.
Sunday's victory thrust the Steelers back into the playoff picture. A year after wasting an opportunity to make the playoff party, Pittsburgh understands they still have work to do to get the invitation this season.
"How I put a situation like that, man, is you're going to a party and you've got your VIP invitation -- if you win," cornerback Ike Taylor told FOX Sports' Mike Garafolo on Sunday. "But if you wind up losing a few, you don't have a VIP invitation, so you've gotta know somebody to get in.
"And somebody might not answer the phone when you're at the door."
Unfortunately for Taylor, he might be one reason that somebody doesn't answer the phone.
A.J. Green, who piled up a career-high 224 yards on 11 catches, torched the veteran corner all Sunday, before Taylor left the game due to a knee injury.
The Steelers have won with their offense, but Taylor's play epitomized a secondary that has gotten torched all season. With Julio Jones on deck next week and Green visiting again in the season finale, Pittsburgh will have to outscore opponents to ensure that VIP call comes at the end of December.
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